BMW Issues Sudden ‘Stop Sale’ Order For All North American ICE Motorcycles
BERLIN, GERMANY – DECEMBER 19: Workers assemble motorcycles on the assembly line at the BMW … [+]
This story was updated to clarify that BMW’s actions were not in response to any actions by government agencies.
BMW has told North American market motorcycle dealers to stop selling all models of its gas-powered (ICE) motorcycles while they investigate an issue with the machines that appears to involve emissions equipment. BMW says models currently in service are safe to ride and has not asked current owners of BMW motorcycles to stop riding their bikes or said that the problem presents a danger to riders.
BMW has taken the action of its own volition after an internal investigation and not in response to any regulatory bodies such as the DOT or EPA in the United States or elsewhere. The order affects dealers in the United States and Canada. The DOT and EPA have not issued any bulletins in regards to the issue.
The stop sales order does not affect BMW’s electric offerings, including the CE 04 scooter recently reviewed by Forbes.com or the new CE 02 model. Neither machine has emissions components due to their all-electric powertrains.
According to a post on the adventure motorcycle website ADVrider.com, BMW confirmed that that the order was given “following a recent quality analysis,” and that “BMW is pursuing measures to further evaluate the material used in a component of its motorcycle evaporative system, which may not have been produced to material specifications.”
So far, BMW has not said if any affected motorcycles will be recalled or retrofitted to solve the issue, which so far has not been detailed by the German car and motorcycle maker. The motorcycle arm of the company is officially known as BMW Motorrad. As of publication, there was no message on the English-language version of the BMW Motorrad website about the stop sale issue or the possible problem.
The timing is problematic for BMW, as the company’s highly anticipated remodel of its top adventure machine and de facto flagship, expected to be called the R1300GS, was due to be revealed on Thursday in Berlin. There’s been no word on if those plans are on hold or will proceed. BMW has also not said when the stop sale order might be lifted.
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