Back with a vengeance

Husqvarna Motorcycles will officially return to the Philippine market through Ayala-led AC Industrials in 2020. This was confirmed by top officials from Adventure Cycle Philippines (ACP), the official distributor of KTM in the country. This is a development we have been speculating on for some time as Husqvarna and KTM are sister brands.

Over the past couple of years, Adventure Cycle Philippines, the Ayala subsidiary that distributes KTM, has been exploring the possibility of reintroducing Husqvarna motorcycles to the Philippine market.

The Swedish motorcycle brand was purchased by KTM owner, Pierer Industrie AG, from BMW back in 2013. In the same year, Husqvarna headquarters moved from Varese, Itlay to Mattighofen, Austria. With the favorable market conditions and increasing demand for motorcycles in the Philippines, it is natural for the Stefan Pierer-led company to consider re-entering the market with a strong partner.

The timing couldn't be better as Husqvarna now offers the Vitpilen and Svartpilen, two production street bikes that are built around the platform of KTM's Duke 390. There's also the newly launched Norden 901 adventure bike.

Because the Duke 390 is already assembled locally, Ayala Corp. plans to leverage the manufacturing capabilities of KTM Asia Motorcycle Manufacturing (KAMMI) to build the Vitpilen and Svartpilen locally. With local manufacture, it is hoped that the Husqvarna models will be made more affordable as well.

The Husqvarna models will initially be offered at select KTM dealerships in the country. ACP has yet to specify which ones. It is likely that they will be serviced at the same locations as well.

Very little details have been released, and Ayala has yet to determine when in 2020, specifically, Husqvarna will return. We'll keep you posted with updates.