BMW has officially confirmed that it has reached an agreement to sell Husqvarna to Pierer Industrie AG, a company reportedly controlled by KTM CEO Stefan Pierer. The terms of the deal, including the price, are being kept confidential. The transaction is subject to approval by European antitrust authorities. In a press release, BMW indicates it wants to focus its resources on road going two wheelers, including the growing demand for green, economical urban transportation vehicles. BMW, including its automobile division, is developing very sophisticated hybrid and fully electric vehicles, some of which offer very high performance, to go along with more efficient internal combustion powered vehicles. Some of these new designs are already reaching production.
It is not understood by this publication how Pierer’s control over Husqvarna squares with his management role at KTM, ostensibly a competitor. Perhaps this will become clearer as the story develops further. KTM is now owned in part by the Indian manufacturer Bajaj.
Maybe BMW wasn’t getting the dealer support they had hoped for.
This surprises me, as everything I’ve been reading in the mags seem to make it sound like the BMW/ Husqvarna partnership was great.
Lots of excitement with the possible release of a street going 2 stroke if I recall.
Why would any KTM entity want Husky. They sure haven’t done much with Husaberg.
I can’t afford any on the Eurotrash bikes. Way to much money for most of their DP’s IMHO.
Maybe ktm CEO is getting ready to sell his stake in ktm and start a new venture. If so, he is following the steps of castignliolis – sold Ducati and started from zero with mv agusta. Time will tell.
Husky belongs with Piagio to compliment the Aprilia and Guzzi. The last real Husky was made in Sweeden in middle 80’s. Every time I see a Husky now I think rebadged Cagiva. The ads for the new dual sport looked promising. Oh well, just that much further diluted from the original.
Nice thought since I own an Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and a Husky. Would be nice to have them all under one corporate roof, but I don’t think it will happen.
Their all looking for that stop gap acquisition that just might turn the corner and become the Cinderella story of the time..It’s like that one building in every town America that has a different restaurant in it every other year..location, location, location.
car sales in EU are tanking. BMW is OK for now – perhaps they are simply focusing limited resources.
BMW bought Range Rover in the 80’s, put in millions and sold it for a major loss…..
They bought rolls thinking they also got Bently but VW got that………….
At least they didn’t blow wads of cash on it like Harley did with MV Agusta. That was about the dumbest move in the motorcycle industry that I’ve ever seen.
Why? Inject some tech into Husky which raises it’s worth and then flog it off for a profit? That’s the only reason I can think of. No way would BMW make a poor acquisition decision in the first place.
“No way would BMW make a poor acquisition decision in the first place.”
That they did is about the only part of this deal that’s clear and understood – IMO.