New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada - There may be a slowdown in sales of quality-made ATVs and UTVs in North America, but the top of the category amphibious all season ARGO ASV (All Surface Vehicle) continues to roll out the doors of manufacturer Ontario Drive & Gear at a steadily increasing rate. The ARGO's sales have grown by 16% worldwide in an off-road market that has decreased by about 10%. This decline in sales has been experienced only by the top-name North American and Japanese built vehicles. During this time the sales in North America of less expensive vehicles manufactured in China have increased.
The ARGO offers many extras that make it the vehicle of choice for a cross-section of professionals and recreational users alike in industries spanning utilities, agriculture, search and rescue, firefighting, defense, landmine detection and removal, and its mainstay, hunting and fishing. Consumers are looking more carefully at getting value for their money, and the ARGO is delivering with its greater versatility. The ARGO can handle more passengers and supplies than a traditional ATV and UTV, and comfortably seats up to six people. Unpredictable weather conditions and the high risk of driving 4 or 6 - wheel UTVs onto lakes in the wintertime make the ARGO a safer choice for ice fishermen and others who must get across bodies of water in the winter or in any season.
"The ARGO is a unique vehicle; amphibious and all-season, that makes it popular with outdoors people and there is growing interest from commercial users and EMS organizations in the UTV market for custom applications," says Mike Kelly, ODG's Internal Sales Manager, Vehicle Division. "Payload capacity, multi-passenger, value, and versatility are all reasons for their growing popularity. Our customers can do things with ARGOs that they can't do with ATVs, like accessing flooded environments. If they do get in with an ATV, they will get wet and dirty. It is not practical to carry cargo through these areas in regular ATVs," continues Mike Kelly.
There is also a growing demand for the 8x8 Centaur, the utility vehicle for the discerning commercial user, available in gasoline and diesel powered models. The all season 8x8 Centaur has a proven record with hydro, cable and telecommunication companies, natural resource exploration, the public sector, and defense. As a result of stronger marketing support, ODG has set up many new dealers across the United States, Canada and Mexico, to give customers better service. ARGO dealers and customers are also pleased with the financing packages that start at $119 a month and pricing that starts at $8995 for a base model.
"I give full credit for this type of growth to the ARGO dealers. They are a very dedicated group and understand what it takes to be successful with this niche product," says Joe Klosterman, General Manager ARGO USA.
Every ARGO is backed by decades of experience in the design and manufacture of off-road vehicles. Ontario Drive & Gear introduced the world-famous amphibious ARGO in 1967. Since then, ODG has produced more lightweight amphibious vehicles than any other manufacturer in the world.To find out more about the entire ARGO lineup, please visit http://www.argoatv.com or contact marketing@odg.com.