Dutch website Nieuwsmotor is reporting BMW has sold subsidiary Husqvarna, to what seems an unlikely buyer.
According to the site, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer has purchased the marque, finalizing the deal yesterday.
If true, the move marks yet another odd twist in Husqvarna’s history, and leaves us with a lot of questions.
Several models in the Husky lineup – particularly the Nuda street-based models, and 2013’s Terra and Strada models – were built around hopped-up BMW engines.In fact, the company had been moving away from several long-running models (like their 600-series TE bikes) in favour of the BMW-derived machines.
In the case of the 650 models, we could imagine the new buyers still having access to those motors, as they were sourced from China. Other manufacturers around the world are building around those motors (Johnny Pag, for instance), so we could see Husky keeping those models in the lineup. Other Husky bikes were built around BMW’s made-in-China engine from their shortlived 450 project. That connection could still remain in place.
In the case of the Nuda bikes that were built around BMW’s 800 twin, though, the situation would possibly get much more complicated. This move could spell the end of those bikes, before they ever reached the market in any real numbers.
The other big question, of course, is what exactly Pierer is up to. For some time, Indian firm Bajaj has been buying up all the KTM stock they could get their hands on. Now, they almost control the company. That seems to have resulted in some changes in the company’s lineup, with made-for-Asia bikes like the Duke 200 coming to market.
This move seems like it means one of two things: Either Pierer likes the ties with Bajaj, and figures he can use that connection to give the Husqvarna brand a much-need boost. Or maybe he doesn’t like those ties, and he wants to get back to focusing on KTM’s traditional goal: high-performance dirt bikes.
One thing’s for sure – it should be interesting to see where this brand heads in coming months. Stay tuned.
I have owned and love the old Huskys, but after they sold out to the Italians they just can t seem to get ther doodoo together, and Im glad that I didnt pull the triger on a 450 last year. Lets see how long this new deal lasts.
Didn’t KTM own Husaberg?
Still do.