Big Squid

[MAGNUMB]

This snippet below is from the big squid site...do you know what company he is referring to?

However, for as well as AE is doing right now, there is another company where we are seeing a possible “KTM” situation get going. What is a “KTM” situation? KTM is a big off-road motorcycle manufacturer. They are 3 billion dollars in the hole and are starting to fall apart at the seams. There is a big hitter in the rc world, that is going through a reallyyyy rough time at the moment as well. While not the single biggest player, they aren’t small either, and I’d be surprised if they make it to the year 2026. If this particular company were to completely faulter, it would really change our industry as a whole. I certainly hope they do what it takes to get things back to together, but only time will tell. We see companies come and go all the time in this industry, but it’s rare when one of the big boys may not make it another year.

THE Retired Report – Who Won 2024? - Big Squid RC

Well hello there fellow hobbyists, I am Cubby, I am retired, yet here I am for another Cub Report! As we get ready to conclude the year of 2024, I wanna take a look back and see how our industry did over the last 12 months. After looking through a year of our posts, I’ve […]

www.bigsquidrc.com

 

[svt923]

Not sure specifically what company they would be referring to.

I remember reading Kyosho either received a substantial investment or was bought out entirely by private equity a few years ago, wouldn't be surprised if it was them. Any of the 100% racing focused brands wouldn't surprise me either (Mugen, Serpent, Xray, etc) since racing participation has been on a steady decline for years. Could also be someone on the supplier side like HRP since Amain has become a bigger player in the hobby distribution game in the past few years.

 

[Col_Sanders]

I am surprised AE is doing as well as he says. I wonder how long they can milk these re-releases.

He says it isnt the biggest player so thinking it isnt one of the Horizon brands?

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I don't believe that AE is doing well. I think they lost all or most of their design staff. They are milking re-releases.

My guess is that Horizon is in trouble. The signs are there. They can't keep things in stock. Lots of stuff, even popular products, are on clearance, the customer service is dead, all releases are delayed, etc. Horizon also tried buying up everybody, like KTM, and those companies became worse for it. Horizon used to be one of my favorite RC companies and now I'd be happy if they went out of business because they are that terrible. Instead of focusing on making great products and having incredible customer service, like they did in the past, they are now focused on being a monopoly that owns everything in RC and their products and customer service have degraded because of this.

 

[meatmonkey]

Well Jato, I wish you were wrong. But all you say is true.

The evil empire has possibly stretched itself too thin?

 

[durok]

It's a sign of the times. Check out what's going on with Crucible Industries, the maker of CPM steel.

They make powdered metallurgy steels for the knife industry like CPM S30V and Magnacut.

They are going bankrupt and the whole knife industry is freaking out!

Granted, someone will likely pick up the pieces and they will come back under new management...

Fingers crossed, at least!

 

[MAGNUMB]

It seems some companies prefer just to buy up others to expand

 

[RudyF6]

It seems some companies prefer just to buy up others to expand

Or dissolve...

 

[durok]

It's also been posted officially that Honda and Nissan are merging...

Nissan was supposedly about to go under.

 

[hnoroian]

Yes KTM is faulting on things. I don’t know what companies he is referring to as far as our hobby is concerned. I read both articles earlier that were posted. As I read them he is looking for that next big thing in the hobby. My guess is that backyard and parking lot tracks are going to be popping up more often now and the street war is on. Land is being bought up and housing/business development is taking over. Running a buisness now these days is extremely difficult. Even party city is closing its doors in February.

Edit: heck I wouldn’t even mind a Bolink legends class starting up somewhere…

 

[JatoTheRipper]

It's a sign of the times. Check out what's going on with Crucible Industries, the maker of CPM steel.

They make powdered metallurgy steels for the knife industry like CPM S30V and Magnacut.

They are going bankrupt and the whole knife industry is freaking out!

Granted, someone will likely pick up the pieces and they will come back under new management...

Fingers crossed, at least!

Most steel plants move to China a long time ago. I give Crucible credit for hanging on so long, but it was obviously the wrong business decision. If only they could have hung on until after the start of the tariffs that are said to be coming then maybe things would have been different, but I doubt it. They are getting auctioned off and I'd be blown away if China doesn't get that - something the American government shouldn't let happen, but we are far past China getting control.

It's also been posted officially that Honda and Nissan are merging...

Nissan was supposedly about to go under.

I've seen it confirmed that Honda and Nissan are in talks, but nothing that the merger is officially happening. Have you seen this confirmed? Mitsubishi is said to be tagging along too. I honestly don't understand what Honda would want from Nissan nor Mitsubishi. All these auto mergers seem to be the result of the atrocious government decision to force EV junk onto manufacturers. Consumers have continued to show that, as a whole, we don't want them.

 

[Col_Sanders]

I don't believe that AE is doing well. I think they lost all or most of their design staff. They are milking re-releases.

My guess is that Horizon is in trouble. The signs are there. They can't keep things in stock. Lots of stuff, even popular products, are on clearance, the customer service is dead, all releases are delayed, etc. Horizon also tried buying up everybody, like KTM, and those companies became worse for it. Horizon used to be one of my favorite RC companies and now I'd be happy if they went out of business because they are that terrible. Instead of focusing on making great products and having incredible customer service, like they did in the past, they are now focused on being a monopoly that owns everything in RC and their products and customer service have degraded because of this.

I'm hoping it isn't horizon. Not because i like horizon as a whole, but because they have so many brands that would suck to lose.

I was pretty bummed when they bought proline.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I'm hoping it isn't horizon. Not because i like horizon as a whole, but because they have so many brands that would suck to lose.

I was pretty bummed when they bought proline.

I think they could sell of brands and hopefully Proline would be one of those. I think Proline has only gotten worse under Horizon ownership.

 

[durok]

Honda merger with Nissan is official. It was posted on multiple sites today.

It was mentioned that the Japanese government was definitely in favor.

Mitsubishi is considered to be part of Nissan in this news.

I'm unable to access my PC to cut and paste a link right now, using my crippled Fire tablet to browse this forum...

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Honda merger with Nissan is official. It was posted on multiple sites today.

It was mentioned that the Japanese government was definitely in favor.

Mitsubishi is considered to be part of Nissan in this news.

I'm unable to access my PC to cut and paste a link right now, using my crippled Fire tablet to browse this forum...

I've searched. I only see talks to merge and nothing firm.

The fact that the Japanese government is pushing for it now makes it make sense. I bet Honda isn't too happy.

 

[durok]

I dug around further and realized I jumped the gun making that statement!

My fault for reading headlines and not the full articles...

 

[Gula]

That would be the death to Honda!

 

[MAGNUMB]

Yes KTM is faulting on things. I don’t know what companies he is referring to as far as our hobby is concerned. I read both articles earlier that were posted. As I read them he is looking for that next big thing in the hobby. My guess is that backyard and parking lot tracks are going to be popping up more often now and the street war is on. Land is being bought up and housing/business development is taking over. Running a buisness now these days is extremely difficult. Even party city is closing its doors in February.

Edit: heck I wouldn’t even mind a Bolink legends class starting up somewhere…

Would love a Bolink series!! Also the release of the RC10 DS would make for a pretty fun parking lot racers. Good ground clearance and suspension

 

[JatoTheRipper]

That would be the death to Honda!

Looks like the Japanese government is "urging" this merger. And if the only rumors are true, it is because they fear China. That is concerning for all of us. The fact that the moronic government is pushing EVs on us and the fact that consumers keep resisting that garbage isn't helping anyone. If this merger happens, it will make the Honda/Nissan/Mitsubishi conglomerate the third largest auto manufacturer. I don't like it for Honda. Size alone will not help Honda. Ask GM. Nissan hasn't made a desirable vehicle since the late 90's or early 2000's with the last being the 370Z. The heavyweight tank that is the GT-R does nothing for me. They do have trucks, but the Titan isn't a contender at all in any way and it rides on an ancient platform. The Frontier is a warmed-over turd on an ancient chassis and barely in the running with the other midsize trucks. Mitsubishi only makes junk econoboxes. I could care less about Honda as well, but at least they make reliable vehicles. I honestly can't think of a Honda I've ever lusted after, but I'm not a ricer. The Acura NSX is cool, but that's far from a typical Honda.

Would love a Bolink series!! Also the release of the RC10 DS would make for a pretty fun parking lot racers. Good ground clearance and suspension

The DS has my eye for parking lot racing, but all my on-road cars sit idle on shelves.

 

[Gula]

Couldn't have said it better bro!

I think swe need to invest in infrastructure We don't need these huge capacity batteries in EVs they just need to charge like theyre a slot track car, lol. Inductive!!!

Never been a nissan fan, just by my friends bitchin about em. Most folk that owned one had some sort of issues, usually a costly transmission part replacement on a Rogue. A flap in the front vent system in the titan/armada causing no A/C being broken shut, 5.6 burning oil.........

My wife and I owned a 2001 mitsubishi galant, that thing was a tank! Lived through 3 accidents and still drove us home 50 miles after getting hit for it's last time.