Kawasaki becomes exclusive supplier of engines to Excel Industries’ North American turf market

Kawasaki Engines and Power Products, a division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., announced Sept. 18 an exclusivity arrangement to supply engines for inclusion in Excel Industries North American turf products marketplace.

The agreement covers 18 different Kawasaki engines for a spectrum of products sold by Excel under both the Hustler Turf Equipment and BigDog Mowers brand umbrellas. Units are used in residential, commercial, industrial and golf course applications and are sold through a U.S. network of more than 1,600 dealers. These units will be powered by Kawasaki’s FX, FS and FR engines manufactured in Maryville, Mo.

According to Laura Holtrop, national sales manager at Kawasaki, “This marks the first time that Kawasaki has made an exclusive supplier arrangement, and we’re excited about the many benefits end users will see because of the collaboration of two leading companies in the lawn care industry.”

The Excel products include BigDog Mowers-branded C Series, R Series and X Series, as well as Hustler Turf Equipment-branded Sport, FasTrak, X-ONE and Super Z.

Adam Mullet, director of marketing at Excel Industries, said a total of 67 units from the Hustler and BigDog Mowers lineup will all be fitted with the Kawasaki engines effective immediately. “Our company has prided itself on innovation since developing the industry’s first zero-turn mower in 1964, and this alignment with Kawasaki is another opportunity for our dealer network to differentiate our brands from the competitors,” added Mullet.

Kawasaki recently launched a “Critical Power” recognition campaign, focusing on the brand’s receipt of Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) certification of its engine horsepower ratings. Undertaken to help clarify consumer understanding of the usable power provided by engines, it has been recognized as a significant step forward in providing end users with realistic power output numbers.

“Excel recognizes the impact that Kawasaki’s unique efforts can have at retail, and fitting our mowers with their engines helps underscore our brands’ concern for our buyers,” said Mullet.

Kawasaki Engines and Power Products, a division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., distributes gasoline engines and professional handheld power products for landscape, industrial and consumer markets. The division is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., and services customers through its network of more than 7,300 independent dealers throughout the United States, Canada, U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific, and Guam.

Founded in 1960 and based in Hesston, Kan., Excel Industries manufactures premium commercial and residential lawn care equipment under the Hustler Turf Equipment and BigDog Mowers brands. Excel introduced the world’s first zero-turn mower in 1964 and the world’s first all-electric zero-turn mower in 2008. Excel Industries has a global distribution network of more than 1,600 U.S. dealers and 50 distributors worldwide.