ATV makers abandon Australia: Polaris to go in October, followed by Honda and Yamaha 12 months later

Quad bike manufacturers are abandoning Australia, rather than fitting operator protection devices or roll bars.

Pulling out: Polaris is pulling its quad bikes out of Australia this October, with Honda and Yamaha to follow 12 months later.

POLARIS quad bikes will be pulled from the Australian market by October, with Honda and Yamaha following 12 months later.

The manufacturers have repeatedly stated they would rather abandon the Australian market than meet new federal safety standards requiring them to fit operator protection devices or roll bars to all new quad bikes from October 2021.

But last week Polaris announced it would pull the pin on selling its full range of quad bikes in Australia 12 months ahead of the deadline.

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Underlying Polaris' decision is the argument that people are abandoning quad bikes in favour of side-by-side vehicles anyway.

“Polaris maintains its view that the market itself would end up signalling the end for quad bikes over coming years anyway through sheer lack of demand driven by the availability, benefits and range of side-by-side vehicles,” Polaris Australia & New Zealand managing director Alan Collins said.

Honda and Yamaha have reaffirmed they will wait until October 11 next year before pulling their utility quad bikes out of the Australian market, once operator protection devices or roll bars become mandatory under new federal safety standards.

Polaris, Honda and Yamaha have actively campaigned against fitting OPDs to quad bikes, claiming they could cause as many injuries as they prevented.

The Federal Government safety standard, announced late last year, demands that by October this year all new quad bikes display the degree of slope at which they overturn and by October 2021 they be fitted with operator protection devices or rollover bars.

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Yamaha marketing manager Sean Goldhawke said the company had already tested its quad bike range to determine their roll points, with all being tagged by October this year.

“But we’re pulling out all our utility ATVs (quad bikes) out from October 2021,” Mr Goldhawke said.

Polaris is withdrawing its full range of quad bikes from sale by October, including its current 50cc and 110cc Outlaw youth models.

However, Polaris will continue to offer its ROPS-equipped range comprising the single-seat ACE 150, sporty RZR 170 and Ranger 150.

Mr Collins said full product support for Polaris parts and warranty would continue in Australia for at least a decade.