Manufacturers, dealers, and suppliers in the golf car industry have been struggling with identity issues for many years. The newly formed Low Speed Vehicle Dealers Association had this issue as well. Happily, the title establishes the brand perspective: “From the fairways to the roadways” is the slogan for the LVSDA. This mantra tells it all with regard to the direction and intent of the organization.
Small Vehicle Resource, in its just-published strategic perspective on the industry and market, looks at two key areas of market expansion, directly tied to street-legal golf cars. (To bring the categories of consumer and commercial vehicles together, we use the term “golfcar-type” or GCT vehicles at various points in this article).
Before getting into the potential market expansions and what will drive these increases, what is the state of the industry and market at the present time, just before the 2026 PGA Show?
Evidence of significant price drops at retail
As is well known, imports of partially-assembled GCT vehicles poured in during the last half of 2024 in an effort to escape general tariff increases on Chinese products and the imposition of anti-dumping penalties and countervailing duties, based on findings of the Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission.
The overload of imports will be absorbed either by the importers of these GCT vehicles, or by their dealer network. Either way, there will be a sell-off over time of the excess at lower prices. The discounts are not only seen in the import supply segment, but also among domestic manufacturers , Club Car, E-Z-GO, and Yamaha.
Even those import models that bear no discount price at retail are likely to be “discounted” further up the supply/distribution chain in the form of lower MSRPs.
Strategies to offset discounts and maintain margins
Probably the best strategy to offset discounted prices and a price war is to improve the product, making it more attractive to the buyer. The process of product improvement and upgrade has, of course, been going on for some time now. These upgrades, including those imparting certification for low-speed, street-legal vehicles, have propelled beyond the golf course and gated community to a viable and growing segment for short-distance driving.
Equal emphasis on upgrade should be directed to opening up the last mile delivery market for GCTs. This is a market which is, as yet, pretty much undeveloped, while moving ahead in Europe, according to reports.
What will be the key upgrades?
What are the possible further upgrades that take the market to its next level? An answer to this question could perhaps best start with asking, what are the major obstacles to growth? Clearly, one of the major concerns is safety. Any upgrade that increases safety in the operation of the vehicle would be a significant selling point at retail. Another upgrade, relating to ease and convenience of vehicle use would be wireless charging. Yet a further upgrade touching both on safety and ease of use, would be hardshell enclosures, which assure full weatherization.
Safety features and technology
While seatbelts have been integrated into GCT vehicles for some time now, an additional feature would be a seatbelt systems that require a locked belt before the vehicle could be actually started. This would ensure that everyone in the vehicle, including kids in the backward-facing seats, would be locked in before the vehicle took to the road.
Another possible upgrade would be front seat airbags. Mike Tomberlin, one of the industry’s most innovative individuals, devised about two decades ago, an airbag for Tomberlin vehicles. He was quite a bit ahead of his time, but now, with GCTs more and more on public roads and streets, the time to revisit his innovation is at hand.
Tomberlin recently was featured on Bloomberg’s series, World’s Greatest… According to the story in Golf Car Advisor, Tomberlin was chosen above other brands “…for its innovative approach in redefining the low-speed electric vehicle market.” An important reason, no doubt, for this recognition is the emphasis the company places on safety. A recent Tomberlin ad enumerated 15 safety features integrated into every Tomberlin LSV. One of these features is a backup camera and a warning buzzer to alert pedestrians.
Autonomous driving features
As autonomous mobility moves steadily into the mainstream of personal transportation and last mile delivery systems, these features are highly likely to gravitate into GCT vehicles. Several companies in the past few years have offered autonomous systems, but as yet the system has not caught on as upgrade. Part of the issue is that in trials around the country with conventional vehicles, there have been highly publicized mishaps. Nonetheless, the trials continue.
Such systems hold high promise for on-call mobility fleets, as well as individually-owned LSVs and light-duty utility vehicles, particularly as they would enhance operational safety on public roads.
Opportunistic charging technology—wireless charging
Another promising upgrade would be wireless charging, involving resonant frequency technology. WiTricity Corporation teamed with E-Z-GO in the 2025 PGA Show. The charging receiver plate was installed on the underside of the golf car, with charging plate placed in convenient locations at the owner’s residence.
An additional promise for this technology is installing the charging plate at various locations for short distance driving destinations, such as grocery stores and office parking facilities. The technology nicely complements the growing use of GCT vehicles for short distance driving and for last mile delivery services.
What the SVR & GCA teams will be scouting out at the 2026 PGA Show
In addition to new technologies that will drive market expansion, the SVR & GCA teams will be engaging a variety of exhibitors related to GCT vehicles. A number of key observations will be the focus:
- The types of LSV models that predominate the exhibits (e.g., four front-facing seating, the possible emergence of six front-facing seating modes);
- The presence of Chinese manufacturers at the Show, particularly in light of the anti-dumping/countervailing duty penalties now being assessed on Chinese-produced GCT vehicles;
- Innovative upgrades and accessories
- The possible presence of rebuilders, customizers, and vehicle remanufacturers.
With the industry in terms of its makeup and company participants in flux and major growth opportunities in sight, 2026 PGA Show will be exciting and not one you want to miss.
Pull quote – For more information on SVR’s strategic industry and market analysis, entitled, Trends and Outlook for the Golf Car Market & Industry, 2019-2032©–Market challenges; major growth opportunities, contact smetzger@smallvehicleresource.com
