Tire dealers and other service operations covering the ATV segment may wish to tell your customers about information being provided by Yamaha regarding its line of Rhino Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicles.
The company’s just-launched new Internet site, www.TruthAboutRhino.com, is designed “to combat a recent flurry of inaccurate information and negative advertisements targeting the vehicle, and to encourage Rhino customers and the off-road industry to show their support for the SxS segment,” according to Steve Nessl, marketing manager for the ATV and SxS division.
“With TruthAboutRhino.com, Yamaha has created a home for accurate information about our company and the Rhino product line, and we’re encouraging our customers and the industry to show their support,” Nessl says.
“We’ve seen a disproportionate amount of negative and inaccurate information distributed recently, so we wanted to create a place where our customers, the general public and the news media can get the real facts,” he adds.
The new online link includes background information on the company and its products along with details on the March 31 Consumer Product Safety Commission “repair program announcement” – which Nessl says was not actually a “recall” – plus it “provides a platform for Rhino fans and off-road enthusiasts in general to show their support,” Nessl reports.
“What has been lost in the firestorm of negative, inaccurate information about the Rhino is that the vast majority of our customers and SxS enthusiasts absolutely love their vehicles and its role in pioneering the SxS segment in the industry,” he notes.
“In reality, statistics show that more than 99 percent of Rhino customers have never reported any claim or incident, a fact never mentioned in the plaintiff attorney ads or Web sites where they troll for new clients,” Nessl contends. “We decided it was time to create a home online for ourselves where accurate information about our vehicle can be found.”
Safety recommendations and guidelines, which are posted on the site, include:
- Drivers must be 16 years or older and have a valid motor vehicle license. Children under 16 should never drive a Rhino.
- To ride in a Rhino, a passenger must be tall enough to place both feet flat on the floorboard with his or her back against the seat back and be able to reach the passenger hand holds.
- Driver and passenger should always wear seatbelts and protective gear/clothing including: Helmet, eye protection, gloves, over-the-ankle boots, long sleeves and long pants.
- Drivers and passengers should stay completely inside the vehicle at all times.
- Rhinos are designed for off-road use only. They should never be operated on public roads or paved surfaces.
- As with any motor vehicle, safety features are no substitute for driving responsibly. Avoid aggressive or reckless use of the Rhino.
Customers and enthusiasts are being invited to “Rally Around the Rhino” by filling out an online form or emailing messages or questions. The company plans to update the site on a regular basis with additional news, special events, photos, videos and comments from the public.
“Rhino customers are our biggest supporters and the most enthusiastic about SxS vehicles and Yamaha,” Nessl says. “We look forward to their feedback.”
Established in 1977 and based in Cypress, Calif., Yamaha’s American operation sells its products through a nationwide network of more than 4,000 dealers. The company also has key facilities in Wisconsin, Georgia and Tennessee.
For more information, visit www.yamaha-motor.com and www.ROHVA.org.
