Looks like the new strategy is paying dividends. Last January, the company announced seven additional distributors in the U.S. Moreover, an agreement with 16 Japanese retailers has been signed following negotiations during Tokyo Auto Salon 2009, Japan's annual tuning show, where the T-Rex was on display.

The V13R will enter production later this year and become Campagna's second model.

As it turns out, the Japanese market offers unexpected benefits. "We don't even have to design a right-hand drive variant because the Japanese like the T-Rex as it is. For them, left-hand drive is much more exotic," says Morissette.

The only thing left to do is to have the vehicle certified by the Japanese Ministry of Transportation.

Meanwhile, back in Canada...
While these developments are under way, the Canadian government, which used to be reluctant to grant three-wheelers access to public roads, is now showing more open-mindedness. Transport Canada indeed issued a certification for the T-Rex.

However, there are still provincial regulations for this type of vehicle and the worst part is that they vary from one province to another. In most cases, the T-Rex is registered as a motorcycle. In Quebec, however, riding the T-Rex no longer requires a motorcycle license -- only a helmet is mandatory. In British Columbia, it's now considered as a passenger car. In Ontario, a void in the legislation prevents buyers from registering and insuring the T-Rex. Alberta consumers were faced with the same problem up until recently, although things are about to change. I guess you could say that no prophet is accepted in his own country!

Yet, production keeps increasing at Campagna Motors. So far this year, approximately 30 units have been assembled and delivered. And to think that in January, as the global economy fell into recession, the new management was hoping for only a dozen!

The company bears the name of its founder: Quebec's Daniel Campagna.

Photo Credit : Matthieu Lambert