KTM CEO Buys Out Husqvarna

[visran]

KTM’s CEO Stefan Pierer has reportedly brought BMW Motorrad’s off-road motorcycle division, Husqvarna. BMW says that they sold Husqvarna to Stefan owned Pierer Industries for an undisclosed sum. The Bavarian manufacturer, who brought Husqvarna from MV Agusta in 2008, says that they are looking to expand with their e-mobility and urban motorcycles.

What does this mean for KTM and Husqvarna? Pierer is a majority stake holder in KTM with the significant other held by Bajaj Auto. With his Pierer Industries now controlling Husqvarna, he will have a free reign with its operations unlike the Bajaj-KTM coalition. Considering that KTM have their own off-road motorcycle brand Husaberg, it will be interesting to see if Pierer will step down from the board and run Husqvarna. Or will Husaberg and Husqvarna team up? Another possibility is that of Bajaj Auto buying over KTM. What happens now of the Husqvarna launch in India? The answer lies in the coming months once the ant-trust authorities clear Husqvarna's sale to Pierer Industries.

KTM CEO buys Husqvarna - Overdrive

 

[visran]

Re: KTM CEO Buys Out Husqvarna

New Husqvarna owner confirms end to road bike production

The recent news that KTM CEO Stefan Pierer was purchasing struggling bike manufacturer Husqvarna was met with interest from many who wondered where he would take the brand.

Now Pierer has made his intentions for the brand clear - announcing that the future of Husqvarna lies in the off-road market.

Under the stewardship of BMW many felt the company had lost its way, producing a variety of bikes that didn't reflect the brand's true strengths.

Although many road bikes will still be available through dealerships, it will be a bitter blow for those who liked models such as the Nuda 900 twin and Terra 650, which won praise but failed to gain a significant enough share of the market to remain a viable option for the struggling manufacturer.

This move was expected, with the company possessing an excellent heritage in the off-road sector but a less well-developed one on the road.

Along with this, Pierer himself is known for his ability to revive a struggling off-road company, experience that will definitely come in handy with Husqvarna.

An announcement is expected to arrive shortly that will clarify what will happen to existing stock, as well as explain whether they will still manufacture spare parts for the machines.

http://www.motorbiketimes.com/news/makes/husqvarna/new-husqvarna-owner-confirms-end-to-road-bike-production-$21382075.htm

 

[visran]

Re: KTM CEO Buys Out Husqvarna

STEFAN PIERER: KTM-BAJAJ TO LAUNCH HUSQVARNA DUAL PURPOSE ENDURO MOTORCYCLE IN INDIA

Fresh from its acquisition of Husqvarna, a Swedish motocross motorcycle brand from BMW Motorrad, KTM is already charting out an aggressive path for Husqvarna. Though the Husqvarna brand has been limited to motocross motorcycles and a few naked streetbikes and is mainly limited to the markets of the developed world, KTM has big plans for Husqvarna even in emerging markets such as India. Given that KTM has tasted success with the low cost-high quality motorcycle of the Duke range of small capacity motorcycles in India, the Austrian brand is expected to leverage Bajaj Auto’s frugal manufacturing and sourcing skills with Husqvarna as well.

In the coming years, India will get a Husqvarna dual purpose enduro motorcycle that will be a cross between a motocross and supermoto. This motorcycle will utilize a new engine architecture that KTM and Bajaj are jointly working on. The Husqvarna dual purpose motorcycle is expected to target active tourers who like to go off the beaten path and enthusiast riders who’d like to go trail riding for recreation. The only afford dual purpose motorcycle available in India currently is the Hero Impulse. With the arrival of the Husky, the choice in dual purpose motorcycles will widen up in India.

Notably, Bajaj Auto was one of the first Indian motorcycle makers to produce a mass market, dual purpose motorcycle in the form of the Bajaj Enduro SX based on the Kawasaki KB100, a motorcycle that was ahead of its time. Once the Husqvarna dual purpose motorcycle arrives into India, the clock would have come a full circle for Bajaj Auto. Bajaj Auto is expected to manufacture the dual purpose Husqvarna in India. Like other KTM motorcycles built in India, the Husqvarna could also be exported to countries across the world. Also, Bajaj Auto is expected to come up with a racing series revolving around the new Husqvarna dual purpose motorcycle, in line with what it is currently doing with the KTM Duke’s Orange Days.

Stefan Pierer: KTM-Bajaj to launch Husqvarna dual purpose enduro motorcycle in India - Indian Cars Bikes : Indian Cars Bikes

 

[HARI GANGADHARAN]

Husqvarna motorcycles plans to enter India in 2017

Husqvarna motorcycles owned by Pierer Industrie AG,headed by Stefan Pierer, current CEO of KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG is planning to enter Indian market in 2017.

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A quote from OD:

If you look closely at the images above you’ll find that the bikes look intensely familiar. That’s because the trellis frames are KTM’s Indian frames painted in black. The engines, similarly, may wear the Husqvarna crest but are the same shape and form as the KTM engine in the 200 and 390 Duke.

Now, Reinhold Zens, one of the two MDs of the company has confirmed to a Swedish mag that the bikes will come as 2017 models. What that means is that the production bikes will show up at the end of next year during some motorcycle show or the other and go on sale shortly thereafter. Zens further said that they may not look like the concept because “a finished model must follow rules and regulation” but they’ll talk that same language.

Of course, this is not a big surprise, just confirmation. Stefan Pierer, KTM CEO purchased Husqvarna in 2013 and immediately noted that he would like the Swedish brand (based in Italy at that point) to return to its roots – simpler, hardy, functional motorcycles. And soon after that, he had hinted that Bajaj Auto, the Chakan plant and the Duke platforms would be part of the resurrection process.

We now expect that the new bikes which are sure to gain friendlier names will most likely be based on the KTM 390 Duke’s powertrain. Power figures should be similar – 43.5PS or thereabouts.

It is too early to talk sales strategy and all but chances are the Husqvarnas will offer a different price and proposition from the KTMs and therefore will be able to make a case for themselves within the Indian KTM network – which currently hosts Kawasakis without friction.

We love the spartan-slick ethos of both the bikes and Husqvarna are likely to stick to this startlingly attractive pattern. Waiting for the Husqvarnas to show up is going to be hard work.

source link:Husqvarna Motorcycles To Go On Sale In India In 2017 - Overdrive

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Gosh they look cool. Wish these are priced sanely. But wasnt the Nuda already on sale in India couple of years back?

 

[incarnation]

India-Made Husqvarna To Roll Out By 2017

Hinting at a possible launch of the India-made Husqvarna dirt bikes sometime in 2017, Bajaj Auto has reportedly given enthusiasts a sneak peek into the company’s plans for this division. A report states, Bajaj Auto’s senior vice-president (Pro Biking), Amit Nandi saying that ‘two years in a rapidly-evolving market is a long time’ and has thus sparked speculations of Husqvarnas being rolled out from India within this period.

We had reported last year that motorbike manufacturer KTM is now going to use the country as the production hub for its dirtbike division Husqvarna Motorcycles’ new on-road offerings. Targeting European markets initially, the Swedish company’s volume bikes – Vitpilen and Svartpilen – are expected to be developed by KTM with partner Bajaj Auto at its Chakan facility.

As far as Indian markets are concerned, there is no immediate plan to introduce Husqvarna models in the country. “We still have a long distance to go in terms of establishing KTM itself in the Indian market, before fragmenting our customer base to yet another brand,” said Nandi.

Husqvarna may introduce bikes from India by 2017
KTM recently inaugurated its ninth brand outlet in Telangana, which is the 262nd showroom across the country. KTM plans to add 88 more dealerships in India by 2017.

India has emerged as a key base for exporting 125cc, 200cc and 390cc bikes for KTM because of the benefits of low-cost production accruing from its partnership with Bajaj. It gives them access to high-volume segments for better business.

KTM is expected to close this financial year with a 30,000 unit-sale and thereby a 25 per cent market share in the entry-level performance motorcycle segment.

Source:http://www.zigwheels.com/news-features/news/indiamade-husqvarna-to-be-rolled-out-by-2017/24780/

 

[Nairrk]

Near-Production Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 Spotted In India

A near-production unit of the upcoming Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 has been spotted in India. Although the bike is heavily camouflaged, we do get to see a number of changes that the India-spec model will be launched with. For instance, unlike the global-spec Vitpilen 401, which comes with spoked wheels, the India-spec model is likely to get the same orange alloy wheels that the KTM 390 Duke gets.

Read:

 

[Nairrk]

KTM 490 platform, Husqvarna electric scooter under development

A presentation by Pierer Mobility – the parent company of KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas – has surfaced online, revealing the company’s future models. The document holds some very interesting information, most notably that there will be an entirely new KTM 490 platform featuring five bikes, 890 versions of the Adventure, SMC and Enduro R, and even an electric Husqvarna scooter.

No details apart from the fact that maximum power will be in the range of 4-11kW have been revealed. Could this be the high-performance e-scooter based on the Chetak platform? Only time will tell.

Read: