Ariens/AS-Motor achieves strong results in the 2026 specialist trade comparison

In the current „markt intern“ performance ranking for motorised equipment and garden tools 2026, Ariens/AS-Motor ranks among the top 3 in all evaluated product categories. The strongest individual result is achieved in the joint assessment of product quality, securing 2nd place.

The performance ranking does not evaluate a single machine. Instead, it assesses manufacturers and suppliers from the perspective of the German specialist trade in motorised equipment. This perspective is particularly relevant for AriensCo EMEAA: dealers experience products and brands over long periods, from consultation and demonstration through to sales, product availability, service, and spare parts supply.

As a result, the survey provides an assessment from the very distribution channel that AS-Motor and Ariens rely on in Germany.

In the product quality category, Ariens/AS-Motor shows significant improvement compared to the 2024 performance ranking. The joint assessment rises from 6th to 2nd place, with the grade improving from 1.77 to 1.52.

For AS-Motor, product quality has a clear practical context. Machines designed for tall grass, steep slopes, embankments, and difficult terrain operate under very different conditions than conventional lawnmowers on regularly maintained areas.

Dense vegetation, uneven ground, inclines, and long working hours place high demands on design, drive systems, and operation. For professional users, cutting and mowing performance on the first day is not the only consideration. Reliable technology, serviceability, and machines that consistently perform their tasks over long-term professional use are decisive factors.

This is precisely where AS-Motor has focused for decades: specialised mowing technology for areas where standard solutions reach their limits.

In the product range policy category, Ariens/AS-Motor also secures a place among the top three providers in 2026. Compared to 2024, the ranking improves from 6th to 3rd place, with the grade remaining nearly stable at 2.10.

Behind this joint assessment are two brands with clearly distinct focuses.

AS-Motor develops machines for tall grass, difficult terrain, and special maintenance tasks. The range includes hand-guided all-mowers and flail mowers, ride-on mowers, and remote-controlled machines for hard-to-access and challenging areas.

The sister brand Ariens focuses in Europe on zero-turn mowers for large lawn areas. Here, agility, area performance, cutting quality, and efficient workflow around trees, flower beds, paths, and other obstacles are the priorities.

Under the AriensCo EMEAA umbrella, this does not create a range that attempts to cover every application with the same machine concept. Instead, the task determines the machine: regularly maintained lawns, tall grass, slopes, difficult terrain, or hard-to-access areas.

For dealers, this division means that the diverse requirements of green space maintenance can be covered by two specialised brands within a single organisation.

The greatest improvement in ranking is achieved by Ariens/AS-Motor in the „expertise in new technologies“ category. Moving from 9th place in 2024 to 3rd place in the current performance ranking, the grade also improves from 2.48 to 2.32.

This development is driven by concrete products and new machine concepts that have entered the market or expanded the portfolio since the last performance ranking.

For AS-Motor, these include the AS 920 E-Sherpa 2WD, the AS 1000 Ovis EVO, and the AS 990 Tahr RC, as well as the track assistance system X-ACT Track. These represent different development directions: electric drives, remote-controlled mowing, and solutions for particularly challenging terrain.

In addition, there is the further development of the AS-Motor ELECTRIC portfolio. With the announced machines featuring the STIHL Powerhead and STIHL AP-System, AS-Motor will expand the options for professional users from 2027 to utilise existing battery infrastructure with selected AS-Motor machines.

At Ariens, the European portfolio has also evolved since 2024. Models such as the IKON and the SUMMIT PRO expand the zero-turn offering for different requirements, ranging from demanding private lawn care to professional use.

For AriensCo EMEAA, technological development does not mean following every technical trend. The decisive factor is whether a solution offers a tangible benefit in practical use, such as in productivity, operation, application possibilities, or integration into existing machine fleets.

From product quality, product range policy, and expertise in new technologies, „markt intern“ derives the overall „Product“ rating. Ariens/AS-Motor improves here from 6th place in 2024 to 3rd place in the current performance ranking, with the grade rising from 2.11 to 1.98.

This development is particularly interesting compared to the overall market. Across all manufacturers considered, the 2026 assessment is more critical than two years ago. The average grade in the „Product“ category has worsened from 2.27 to 2.63.

Ariens/AS-Motor has developed in the opposite direction during the same period: better ratings and three places higher.

This makes the result more meaningful than the ranking position alone. It shows that dealers perceive the development of product quality, range, and technology at Ariens/AS-Motor positively, even in an overall more critically assessed market.

In addition to rankings, the performance ranking includes direct feedback from specialist trade. One published comment about AS-Motor highlights two points that are immediately relevant in daily dealer business: stable pricing and good product availability.

This assessment goes beyond technical product features. A good product only helps the specialist trade if it is available, can be sold, supported, and serviced.

For AriensCo EMEAA, this point is therefore closely linked to the product strategy. Collaboration with the specialist trade does not end with the development of a machine. Product availability, spare parts, contact persons, product training, and long-term support all contribute to how well a product performs in the market.

Mark Scavillo, Executive Vice President EMEAA, and Christian Kahlert, Sales Director Germany at AriensCo, comment on the result from their respective perspectives:

The performance ranking reflects the experiences of the specialist trade with products and manufacturers. At GaLaBau 2026 in Nuremberg, AriensCo EMEAA is looking ahead to the next steps.

This highlights how AriensCo EMEAA presents two distinct approaches to professional mowing tasks on a single stand, while also underscoring the link between product, specialist trade, and practical application.

Those who wish to not only see a machine but also assess it under real-world conditions can arrange live demonstrations at the trade fair.

Christian Kahlert:

“At GaLaBau, we look forward to presenting our new developments and discussing the next joint steps with our partners.”

GaLaBau 2026
15.09.2026 to 18.09.2026
Nuremberg
Hall 9 | Stand 9-408

Source: markt intern, Leistungsspiegel Motoristik/Gartengeräte 2026, issue EWG 33/26.