The recreational vehicle market is witnessing a significant shift in financing accessibility, as Adventure Lifestyle, a rapidly growing powersports dealership network, announces a strategic partnership with Octane, a leading finance technology company specializing in adventure vehicle loans. The collaboration, unveiled yesterday at the Powersports Finance Summit in New York, introduces a seamless in-house financing solution that promises to transform the purchasing experience for outdoor enthusiasts across the country.
This partnership emerges at a critical inflection point for the powersports industry, which has experienced remarkable growth despite broader economic headwinds. According to data from the Motorcycle Industry Council, the sector recorded a 9.2% year-over-year increase in sales volume during the third quarter of 2024, highlighting consumer resilience in discretionary spending for experiential purchases.
“We’re fundamentally reimagining the financing experience for adventure vehicles,” explains Sarah Henderson, Chief Financial Officer at Adventure Lifestyle. “Our customers are passionate about the outdoors, but the traditional financing process hasn’t evolved to match their expectations for simplicity and transparency.”
The new program leverages Octane’s proprietary Octane Prism scoring technology, which goes beyond conventional credit assessment models to evaluate borrower risk. This approach enables Adventure Lifestyle to approve a broader spectrum of customers, including those with limited credit history but strong financial fundamentals—a demographic that traditional lenders often overlook.
Market analysts view this development as particularly timely. A recent J.D. Power report indicates that financing approval rates across the recreational vehicle sector declined by 7% in 2024, creating friction in an otherwise enthusiastic consumer market. “Financial institutions have tightened lending standards across nearly all consumer categories,” notes Marcus Wei, senior analyst at BlueWave Financial Research. “This partnership creates an alternative pathway that could help sustain industry momentum.”
The program offers several customer-facing innovations that differentiate it from traditional financing options. Buyers can complete the entire application process digitally, with instant pre-approval available through Adventure Lifestyle’s website or mobile app. The technology platform also enables personalized term offerings based on vehicle type and individual financial profiles.
Early adoption metrics appear promising. During a three-month pilot program across five Adventure Lifestyle locations, the Octane financing solution achieved a 63% application completion rate—significantly higher than the industry average of 41%. More importantly, the program converted 22% more qualified leads into sales compared to the dealership’s previous financing partners.
For Adventure Lifestyle, which has expanded from three locations in 2022 to fifteen stores across the Midwest and Mountain regions, the partnership represents a strategic move to control more of the customer journey. “Financing has traditionally been a pain point and a moment where we lose customers,” acknowledges Henderson. “By bringing this capability in-house with a technology-forward partner like Octane, we’re eliminating barriers to purchase while maintaining appropriate risk management.”
The financial terms of the partnership remain undisclosed, though industry experts suggest it likely includes revenue-sharing provisions common to dealer-finance relationships. What distinguishes this arrangement, however, is the integration of Octane’s technology directly into Adventure Lifestyle’s sales platform, creating a unified experience from browsing to purchase.
The powersports financing landscape has become increasingly competitive as specialized lenders recognize the sector’s growth potential. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that recreational vehicle loans have outperformed most consumer lending categories in terms of portfolio performance, with delinquency rates remaining below 3% throughout 2024—notably lower than auto loans at 5.7%.
“Adventure vehicle buyers tend to prioritize these payments,” explains Wei. “There’s an emotional attachment to these purchases that translates to financial commitment, making them attractive lending opportunities despite their discretionary nature.”
For consumers, the program offers transparent rate structures starting at 5.99% APR for qualified buyers, competitive with traditional bank offerings but with significantly reduced approval friction. The partnership also introduces flexible term lengths ranging from 12 to 84 months, allowing customers to align monthly payments with their financial situations.
The timing of the launch coincides with seasonal planning for the 2025 riding season, as enthusiasts typically research major purchases months before making commitments. Adventure Lifestyle reports that website traffic patterns show increased financing-related queries beginning approximately 120 days before peak purchasing seasons.
Octane’s involvement represents a continued expansion of its market footprint. The fintech company, which secured $267 million in growth funding last May according to PitchBook data, has been strategically targeting experiential retail categories where traditional financing solutions underserve consumer demand.
Industry observers believe this model could extend beyond powersports into adjacent recreational categories. “The consumer financing landscape is fragmenting into specialized offerings tailored to specific lifestyle categories,” notes Eliza Thornton, director of consumer finance research at Meridian Insights. “We’re seeing similar patterns in marine, RV, and even high-end bicycle markets, where traditional bank financing doesn’t adequately address the unique characteristics of these purchases.”
As the partnership rolls out across all Adventure Lifestyle locations this month, the companies have announced plans for marketing initiatives highlighting financing accessibility, including approval rate guarantees for customers within specific credit tiers. These promotions aim to address hesitation among buyers who might otherwise abandon purchase consideration due to financing uncertainty.
For dealers outside the Adventure Lifestyle network, this partnership raises questions about competitive positioning in an industry where financing availability often determines sales outcomes. Independent powersports retailers may face increased pressure to develop similar in-house capabilities or risk losing market share to dealers offering more seamless purchasing experiences.
As consumer expectations continue evolving toward digital-first, frictionless transactions, the Adventure Lifestyle-Octane financing program represents a significant evolution in how recreational vehicles are sold and financed—potentially establishing a new standard for the industry heading into 2025.
