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| President/CEO Guy Bourassa (left) and Chairman Michel Baril (right) pose in the T-Rex (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
A recent evaluation of the T-Rex assembly plant was performed by an external firm, and they concluded that 1,500 T-Rex vehicles can be built annually without additional costs, but the company still wants to ramp up sales gradually. They also made sure that the 70-something part suppliers are up to the task of dealing with higher sales numbers. As well, they expect to reduce manufacturing costs by 20%, in order to increase profits. For the 2005-2006 fiscal year, they expect to sell 200 vehicles through 27 dealers, as well as 450 units through 56 dealers in 2006-2007 and 1,000 units though 90 dealers in 2007-2008. That's a hefty increase in sales, but like I mentioned before, the potential is said to be much higher than that. To achieve their goals, the company says that the best sales numbers come from dealers who sell exotic sports cars, rather than motorcycle dealers.
As for current T-Rex owners, who are estimated at about 125 in Quebec, the majority are zooming around in their 2nd vehicle. One customer has even recently bought his 8th one! T-Rex owners drive an average of 12,000 km annually.
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| 2005 T-Rex (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
The base price for a T-Rex in Canada is $49,950. It's $44,000 in the USA, so we're getting a good deal.
What's in store for the future of the T-Rex? Well, the company officials were scarce with details, but they did mention having test mules of an updated model, and were currently toying around with another Japanese-brand engine, and even a liquid-cooled, 138-hp V-twin that redlines at 10,000 rpm sourced from Europe. Here's our wild guess: Ducati?
Our next step? A visit of the factory and, of course, actually driving the beast. Stay tuned.
