Volkswagen is considering a possible sale of Italian motorcycle maker Ducati as Europe’s largest carmaker streamlines operations to help fund a strategic overhaul following its emissions scandal, two people familiar with the matter said.
While Wolfsburg-based VW has started reaching out to potential buyers to sound out their interest, no decision has been taken on whether the brand will be sold, they added.
The motorbike maker may appeal to peers in China, India’s Hero or investors such as the consortium that bought British sports car maker Aston Martin in 2007.
Read more at : http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/bikes/91956152/vw-eyes-possible-sale-of-motorbike-brand-ducati
Harley-Davidson enters race to buy Italian rival Ducati
Read more on Reuters.com: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-ducati-m-a-idUSKBN19C1XX
Rueters has reported that along with Harley Davidson potentially being interested in Ducati, strategic bids have also been made by Benetton, U.S. buyout fund Bain Capital which owns a stake in Ski-Doo snowmobiles maker BRB, Indian carmaker Eicher who control Royal Enfield, Bajaj Auto, and U.S. automotive firm Polaris Industries.
You can read more at Reuters.com: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-ducati-sale-idUSKBN1A52G0.
All of those are scary thoughts.
None of the previous discussions have eventuated to anything but now in an interview with german site Speedweek, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer has said stated that the Ducati brand is “the only brand that would fit us [KTM]”, sparking a new rumour than KTM might make a bid for Ducati.