KTM president is offering 1.5B Euros

KTM has expressed renewed interest in acquiring Italian motorcycle brand, Ducati. KTM CEO, Stefan Peirer, has personally told German press that he wants to acquire Ducati.

To convince the Volkswagen Group, parent company of Audi, which owns Ducati, KTM is preparing to offer 1.5B Euros for the motorcycle maker from Bologna, Italy.

“Ducati is Ducati, there’s nothing to shake about that,” said Peirer to German press.

The move to acquire Ducati is part of the KTM group's ambition to become the third largest motorcycle manufacturer in world, following Honda and Yamaha. KTM currently owns Swedish-founded motorcycle brand, Husqvarna. A 47.99% stake of it is owned by India-based Bajaj Auto Limited. Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen (KTM), based in Mattighofen, Austria produces more than 270,000 motorcycles annually, more than five times that of Ducati.

KTM and Bajaj have long expressed interest in acquiring Ducati. Last year, the VW Group was considering selling off Ducati to pay for fines resulting from its “Dieselgate” scandal. Several motorcycle makers expressed keen interest, with KTM, Bajaj, and Harley-Davidson preparing proposals. Bajaj expected to win the bid until the VW board halted the sale.

Pierer believes Ducati is a perfect fit for the KTM Group and already appears to have a plan to integrate it. When asked about other brands, Pierer said the offer is only for Ducati.

“The only brand that would fit us is Ducati. Everything else you can forget.”

The VW Group has made no announcement that Ducati is for sale of late, however, KTM is hoping the generous offer will convince them otherwise.