Bicycle Corporation of America (BCA), a unit of Kent International Inc., announced that its Made-in-USA bicycles went on sale at various Walmart locations, including Walmart.com.
The bikes were assembled at a plant in Manning, S.C. that became the first to mass produce bikes in the United States in over 15 years when it opened in October, 2014.
“There has been a shift in the way Americans shop. As consumers connect the economic dots between foreign made products and America’s future, they have become increasingly committed to 'buying American'-and retailers have taken notice,” BCA said in a release issued Tuesday.
In 2013, Walmart pledged to boost sourcing of U.S. products by $250 billion over the next ten years-helping to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.
“BCA is dedicated to bringing jobs back to America-without compromising on value,” says Scott Kamler, President of BCA. “We are honored to provide jobs for American workers and are proud to be a part of Walmart’s ‘Made in America’ commitment.”
A recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, found that 78 percent of Americans would rather buy the American product when given a choice between a product made in the U.S. and an identical one made abroad. Sixty percent of the survey’s respondents indicated they’d buy American-made products even if those cost 10 percent more than imported versions. Fortunately for Walmart bike shoppers, BCA is able to produce its bicycles in the U.S. without an increase in price. BCA bikes retail for an average of $120-a tremendous value and a product that Americans can feel good about buying.
Bicycle Corporation of America (BCA) was founded in 2014 in response to Walmart’s commitment to source products manufactured in America. BCA bikes are assembled in a 200,000 square foot manufacturing facility in South Carolina, while individual parts are imported from Taiwan and China. BCA is owned by Kent International Inc., a global supplier of bicycles and accessories headquartered in Parsippany, NJ. Kent International Inc. is a major supplier to Walmart, Toys R’ Us, Amazon and Academy Sports & Outdoors.
