In one of the most interesting developments of late, KTM is reportedly interested in buying Ducati whose future always seems to be hanging in the balance with Volkswagen AG confused about selling off the iconic motorcycle brand. The latest attempt made by the German giant to sell off Ducati may have run into some hurdles although reports state that CEO at KTM, Stefan Pierer has shown his interest in buying the famous Italian bike brand and a fresh round of acquisition linked talks may commence soon.
Pierer has stated that his aim is to transform KTM into the third biggest bike brand globally by the year 2020 just behind Yamaha and Honda. KTM sells more than 265,000 bikes annually and has also been successful with the Husqvarna brand. KTM could be a nice fit for Ducati as per Pierer who has stated that the chassis and engines are almost identical when they are built for Husqvarna and KTM and this does not go against any of the brands. Two brands are sold under a single roof, thereby scaling up overall customer bases.
However, the infusion of Ducati into the mix may stir up a whole new equation as per industry experts. Pierer has stated that Ducati can be called the Ferrari of the motorcycle industry and possessing this brand under the KTM Group umbrella would make for a delightful experience. He also referred to the situation being faced by several companies with regard to stringent noise and emission regulations worldwide. He also talked of the new blueprint for the motorcycle segment which is now seeing growing sales in Southeast Asia, India and China as compared to western markets.
