The world leader in trials bikes, based in Girona (Spain), ended the year 2010/2011 on 31 July with a pre-tax profit of 1.1 million euros, after losing 700,000 euros in the previous year.
Net sales were 39.5 million euros, almost 19%. The company sold nearly nine thousand motorcycles, up twenty percent.
The company is 73% owned by Vector Capital, a venture capital of Caixa Pened̬s. Its director general, Jos̩ Fernando Cuevas said that the main impetus of change has been the international expansion. Previously, the company distributed 50% of its sales between Spain and abroad. In the last year, exports have accounted for 85% of the turnover. France has become the largest market for Gas Gas, ahead of Spain, Italy, Germany and the UK, said Cuevas, who notes that the future is in the United States,and Australia where their presence is still very modest.
Another key to the recovery of Gas Gas is the focus on enduro bikes, drive through the Its market is larger and growing. Worldwide trials sales are about 10,000 units per year. Gas Gas has a share of 45%,"Trials is in our DNA," said Cuevas, who says it is a stable market.
In contrast, the enduro market is 160,000 units sold each year, and the share of Gas Gas is only 2.5%."The enduro is the future of the company," says the head of Vector.
The new enduro model, whose development the company has allocated one million euros will be the star of Gas Gas in 2012.
"It was hard to turn around the company, "in this depressed economy, said Cuevas, But with a great reliable rang of bikes and the "outstanding work" of Ramon Puente, CEO and owner of 10% of the company it has been possible.
With the importance of the Australian market in mind, Gas Gas CEO Ramon Puente will be making the trip down under later this year to get a better idea of the needs for the Australian market and for future planning and development for Gas Gas.
The future for Gas Gas has never looked stronger as we wait to see the 2012 enduro offering due later this year.
Main Photo: The 2012 EC300
