Slightly unexpected - Caterham Group launches motorcycles

[AndySuperSport]

http://releases.jalopnik.com/caterham-group-launch...



The electric off road bike looks like something Dougie Lampkin would be riding. Although I don't know if this will help the resale value of my Seven

[DCL]

Yes, I didn't see that one coming! It's good to see a company exploring other markets but can't help feeling a little unsettled. It must be costing big bucks to develop and market so many new products. I hope those funding it have got deep pockets and are in it for the long haul.

But good luck to them!

[Turn7]

They do worry.me of late.

Its all a bit Danny era Lotus....

[ewenm]

Turn7 said:

They do worry.me of late.

Its all a bit Danny era Lotus....

Depends how separate the companies under the Caterham Group banner are. Can the motorcycles fail/succeed independently of the fortunes of CTI or Caterham Racing or Caterham F1 or Caterham Cars (the only important one )?

Bigger thread here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by ewenm on Wednesday 6th November 11:29

[Smollet]

Beginning of the end as far as I can see.

[Ult-Jim]

I am also concerned with all these growth orientated ventures being announced by Caterham. Sounds cool but where and how is the value going to be created?

If I was an investor I would want them to be concentrating on their core business Caterham 7 cars and maximizing sales / profit / investment returns, plus improving customer satisfaction and service with these already proven products, which they should and must show to succeed and perfect. At the same time demonstrating to us customers and potential investors a business model that promotes this creation of value and a solid business for the future.

If I was an investor who wanted to invest in F1 I would choose a proven team that wins races and therefore already has the potential maximize and increase advertising exposure for example. Likewise if I wanted invest in a company which sells motor bikes, I would invest in a management team / business which have the expertise to maximizing value in that investment and a track record. It will be a little like investing in M&S. The clothes sector drags down the excellent value generated by the food side of the business. Long term investors will only be interested in breaking up the business and asset stripping the company to find any quick buck return on investment they possibly can.

Not an expert on the corporate structure and even the company financial history (I guess I should as I have a Caterham) but that is how my simple mind see the situation.

Ult-jim

[TeflonT]

As a back marker in F1 though, you do have to say their sponsors get a fair bit of TV coverage!

I agree with the other sentiments. This to me looks like a build up strategy to sell up with a full order book!

[davidball]

It look like a Lego bike !

[anonymous-user]

As I have said before on the lotus thread you need to understand how Malaysians do business, they have no idea of specialised markets, they try to everything, look at Proton and how many models they have in their home market, they only compete with themselves,

[mickrick]

The brutus is old news on the motocycle websites.
Caterham have simply branded somone elses
product.

[Murph7355]

I actually think a bike would work in the fold. But that one looks like it weighs 10 tonnes, which flies in the face of what Caterham are about.

The F1 side looks to be a play thing for the owners and I can't see it having any material impact on the firm or vice versa. Though again, if played right it could provide some decent advertising potential (just a shame they're unlikely to ever win anything)

The square nosed Caterham car thing was more of a worry. Looked like the sort of thing Dr Bez would do at Aston!