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Info on the production of the DMF Hogzilla UTV

DMF Hogzilla is producted by Hisun the biggest name in utility vehicles that most have never heard of. The company’s 7.1 million-square-foot factory near Chongqing, China, there is plenty of reason to believe that dealers in North America will be seeing more of these side-by-sides and ATVs for years to come.

There’s no doubt that Hisun knows how to make side-by-sides. From 2011-14, the company ranked No. 6 on the list of the largest UTV producers in North America. Its new location in China located 50 miles from the Chongqing Central Business District, has prepared the company for tremendous growth potential. Its previous factory in the central city was 2.1 million square feet. The spacious new location, opened in 2012, sits on 150 acres and employs 1,500. Owned by Mr. Li, the factory offers plenty of amenities, including an 18-story office tower and two-story hotel. A restaurant and 15-seat movie theater for suppliers and guests also sets the facility apart.

The factory currently has capacity for about 50,000 ATVs and side-by-sides annually, nearly all for export. Plans over the next two or three years to increase that number to 100,000 pieces per year. The capacity for production of motorcycles, scooters and generators already is more than 500,000 annually. Since 2006, Hisun’s combined ATV and side-by-side production has surpassed 100,000.

A total of 16 buildings include two research and development locations, along with an assembly plant and engine building plant. Engines and frames are built on site, and the factory provides injection molding as well as powder coating, painting, welding, assembly and packaging.

Two buildings are empty, set aside for future growth. The assembly plant features a pair of 400-foot-long production lines, a packing line and several sub-assembly stations. A six-acre test track, complete with both on- and off-road surfaces, whoops, rocks, mud, sharp turns, inclines pot holes and even small jumps was designed by a U.S.-based consultant with North American riders and drivers in mind.

Hisun manufactures about 75 percent of the ATV and side-by-side components, including the engine. Electrical components and tires are bought from suppliers. Delphi Electronic Fuel Injection systems from the U.K. are used on all products, and Canada’s CVTech clutching systems are used on many models. Bando transmission belts are imported from Japan.

UTVs all meet current and proposed stability standards as being considered by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Testing on a banked track, the Level Flight Suspension certainly brought added confidence as this driver made his worldwide debut in a 1000cc UTV. In fact, Hisun is one of the first Chinese manufacturers to bring a 1000cc UTV to market, topping out a range of 14 different UTV sizes that start at 250cc. There are another 10 ATVs to choose from, from the Axis 110 (sport quad) and Forge 110 (with cargo racks) to the Forge 550 and 750, and the Tactic 800 and 1000 EPS, with its 976cc EFI 8-valve V-twin.

The lineup of 2015 side-by-side product alone is impressive. The four sport side-by-sides in the Strike series include the 250 (MSRP $4,549), 800 ($10,499), 1000 ($13,999) and 1000 Crew ($15,999). The utility side-by-sides include the Sector 250 (MSRP $4,749), 450 ($8,449), 550 ($8,999), 750 ($9,999) and 1000 ($13,999). Finally, the HS Series offers the HS 400 (MSRP $7,499), 500 ($8,499), 700 ($9,499), 700 Crew ($10,999) and 800 Crew ($11,999). All models are EPA and CARB compliant and come with a 1-year factory warranty. In fact, Polaris is the only other company in the world that boasts a more complete line. All engines manufactured by Hisun are used in Hisun-built products; no engines are sold to competitor UTV manufacturers.

50 employees work on two assembly lines. More than 14,000 Hisun-built vehicles were sold in North America in 2014. All of them undergo a 31-point inspection and at least six miles of testing prior to their shipment to dealers and retailers. Units are shipped fully assembled to dealers 5 to 10 units at a time in a dedicated 53-foot trailer. The assembly plant houses 400 workers, two assembly lines and two packing lines. Air conditioning coming down from above each line also is a bonus.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the factory — for every 200 units that are produced, one is taken out for testing to ensure quality standards are met.