Multiple dealers have emailed within the past two days to report that Genuine Scooters are requesting to re-export the Stella 4t scooters that are currently in the United States being held by US Customs in Chicago. Genuine is returning the scooters to the manufacturer, LML, in India. The returned scooters will apparently be replaced with other production LML Stella 4t scooters that more closely resemble the ones that were initially approved for use in the United States by the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The production of the new, conforming scooters is to be initiated within the next two weeks (from August 13th, 2010). Genuine Scooters expects that arrival of the new, conforming scooters could occur sometime in the "late fall" of 2010.
The problems found in the 4t Stellas are attributed to production issues that differ from the initial production specifications specified by Genuine Scooters.
This excerpt from the dealer email relates how Genuine views the issue with the Stella 4t scooters currently in the United States: The production Stella scooters have "... errors that are not consistent with the original specifications provided to the EPA during the original certification process. The original specifications were not carried out properly in the first production run of Stella. The errors are non-mechanical and easily resolved". As the email states, the problems with the scooters are not the fault of Genuine Scooters and seem to be the result of a discrepancy in the "as ordered" and "as delivered" specification of the emission performance of the scooters.
Although Genuine has been cited with two violations of specifications in the "as delivered" Stella 4t scooters, neither of the violations has any effect on the clean air attributes or safety of the Stella 4 stroke vehicles.
So, it looks like it will be a while before the fresh and fully approved 4t Stellas hit the States. I've got to give props to Genuine for their patience and professionalism in this situation. It looks like they are as much of a victim as the poor folks who pre-ordered their 4t Stella for summertime fun. It look's like it will be "late fall fun" at this point. Consider a "now on sale" 2t Stella, perhaps?
Comments
Really. "I've got to give props to Genuine for their patience and professionalism in this situation." Their patience? Professionalism? Victim? They are a business, a Genuine agent should have had boots on the ground in India BEFORE the 4t were shipped to prevent this kind of utter fail. Then to add insult to injury, getting updates to the end customer was almost non existent. Yes I have had a deposit down since March, and yes I am leaving my deposit down. It's what gives me the right to complain... ;)
Seems to me Genuine tried to go a cheaper route with parts that they felt would do the same job. Look how much it has cost them. Lowers my amount of trust in the company.
It seems to me that the manufacturer replaced an integral part with something that would not affect emissions, yet was not the part that was approved by EPA/CARB. They are unable to replace the part here, hence those scoots are going back and ones that have the EXACT parts used in the original approvals are being produced and sent over here. Increases my amount of trust in Genuine, decreases my amount of trust (and ability to compromise) in LML and EPA/CARB.
That's assuming that Genuine is so stupid they don't put eyes on the ground in Asia to make sure they're manufacturer is doing what they expect and need. This is ridiculous. Not only should Genuine have people in India, but they were the ones who customized the LML Star to US specs. There is no reason LML would have used a different part. We only have Genuine's word on all of this and their interest is to save face at any cost.
It's painfully obvious this is Genuine's screw up and if I was LML I'd come out and say so rather than let Genuine trash me in the press like this.
Althought the 4 strokes are just about coming out I think I would miss the noise and the smell of the two stroke. Still is the only new shifting scooter you can buy. As one of the Long Island Scooter Club members, Absolute SC, I think it's great for the flat island.
www.absolutescooterclub.com/forum
To be sure, it's not the same, Don. I'll always have a good old two stroke in the stable, but you might be surprised by a 4-T shifty. At least give it a try! And you're right, the ONLY shifty scoot on the market. I can't wait to give a Stella Four-Stroke a ride.
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