GE Capital’s Commercial Distribution Finance (CDF) business announced that it will provide inventory financing to dealerships that carry Ural Motorcycles, distributed by Irbit Motorworks of America, Inc., based in Redmond, WA.

Made in the Siberian town of Irbit near the Ural Mountains of Russia, the motorcycles are easily recognizable due to their sidecars and heavy-duty construction designed for use on rough roads. Since its start in the 1940s, the company has produced more than 3.2 million motorcycles.

Ural products first came to the U.S. in 1993. The company currently has 75 active dealers here and continues to expand distribution.

“Due to their vintage feel and durable construction, we’ve found a real appetite for our products in the U.S.,” said Jon Bekefy, Ural’s chief marketing officer. “Now that we’ve arranged for inventory financing through GE Capital, we can continue to focus on growing retail sales and building long-term relationships with our national dealer network.”

Inventory financing, also known as floorplan financing, is an important element of a successful manufacturer-lender-dealer business model. Manufacturers can free up resources to focus on their core business interests, while dealers can increase their inventory selection with expanded credit capacity.

“Our deep expertise in this sector enables us to support a wide variety of motorsports products,” said Sameer Gaur, president of CDF’s motorsports group. “We’re looking forward to helping Ural expand its presence in the U.S. marketplace with financing programs that are right for its dealers.”