The world of automobiles is a rather intriguing space, and the fight for the crown is a constant battle that has lead many a manufacturers go to great lengths. One of the most interesting such battles is the one observed between Volkswagen, BMW, and Daimler. Just so you know, this blitzkreig between the three German titans goes on to include several brands. While the Volkswagen Group comprises of brands like Audi, SEAT, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, Bugatti, Skoda, etc., BMW's kingdom comprises of MINI and Rolls Royce. Daimler, on the other-hand, owns Mercedes-Benz, and its high-performance sub-brand Mercedes-AMG, among others.
However, this battle seems to have transcended the world of four-wheelers and is now fielding motorcycles too. While BMW has owned a motorcycle branch since 1923, Volkswagen bought Ducati via Audi AG in 2012, though it could have been Mercedes'. Let me explain; in 2010, Ducati and Mercedes held a combined event at the World Ducati Weekend, where they took the wraps off the Mercedes-Benz SLK Naked, a special edition of the roadster. By the end of 2010, Mercedes-AMG became the technical sponsor of the Ducati MotoGP team. Next year, at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Mercedes-AMG unveiled the Ducati Diavel AMG Special Edition. The growing proximity between these two brands had the world convinced that Ducati was going to become a part of the Daimler family till Audi plucked the cult motorcycle brand out of Mercedes'hands.
That leaves us with Mercedes, the odd one out in the German trio. Don't jump to conclusions just yet, because that might change pretty soon. In July 2013, Merc unveiled the CLA 45 AMG in Milan, where the compact sportscar was flanked by a MV Agusta F3 800. It was no big deal, 'apparently'. Latest reports suggest that Italian motorcycle manufacturer, MV Agusta is planning to offer up to 30 per cent of the company on the stock market. In other news, Daimler AG is looking for a stake in MV Agusta, and has also approached the company for it. I am sure you have connected the dots by now.
Italian motorcycle brands have always held a coveted status in the two-wheeled world; think Ducati, MV Agusta, Aprilia, Moto Morini, Moto Guzzi, and their likes. But MV Agusta tops the list; it is the most coveted of the most coveted. So, a deal between MV and Daimler will benefit both the parties. It would give MV the much-needed access to funds, top-notch facilities and high-end technology, while Daimler would get a off-the-rack motorcycle arm.
But that's it for now, it is just a rumour, since no one from either Daimler or MV Agusta has made a statement about it. That said, we'll be sure to keep you posted about further developments, if any.
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