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Updated – February 25, 2022 – One day after issuing a statement saying “We pray for peace” in Ukraine, Ural posted a more emphatic statement on social media calling for the war to end:
While Urals are assembled in Irbit, Russia, the company has its headquarters in Redmond, WA.
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REDMOND, WA – It’s a certainty this morning that the 75 motorcycle dealers across the U.S. that sell Russian-built Ural sidecar rigs, including a half-dozen dealers in the Northeast, woke up wondering just how much damage Russia’s attack on Ukraine has inflicted on their businesses located thousands of miles away.
At this point, there are more questions than answers. Will sidecar lovers across North America abandon the brand? Will new and existing customers be able to buy new models and parts in the wake of sanctions against Russia?
Last night, with explosions rocking Ukrainian cities as Russia invaded, Ural put out a statement which asserted, “We pray for peace.”
In addressing “the circumstances we find ourselves in,” Ural affirmed that the company is “as ready as we can possibly be to addresses whatever challenges come our way.”
Ural conrinued, “Over the years we’ve learned to navigate ups and downs, to make plans B, C and D both strategically and on the fly. We’ve weathered storms that were very real and dealt with obstacles that were not so publicly known. The history of our brand shows that Ural always finds a way to move forward.”
But war is quite a bit different from economic downturns and supply chain issues, especially when the product’s country of origin is the aggressor.
While not getting into many specifics in its communique, Ural is trying to be optimistic. “Our highest priorities have always been our employees, our partners and our customers. We still hope for people to remain human, value life and stand for living instead of fighting,” the company stated.
Which raises another question: How will the government of Russia and President Vladimir Putin react to Ural declaration that peace – not unprovoked aggression – is needed?
(Photos of 2022 Ural models courtesy of Ural)
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