The KTM AG is largely divided into three partnerships with the larger owned by Cross Industries with a 51.4 per cent share and the controlling stake, while Indian bike maker Bajaj Auto owns 48 per cent of the remaining market. The remaining 0.6 per cent which is listed on the stock exchange will be bought back by Cross Industries, helping the bike maker gain complete control. The news, however, does not change KTM's partnership with Bajaj, or their current arrangement.
Also Read: 2016 KTM RC & Duke Models to get Auto Headlamp Function in India
In fact, the buyback move won't affect KTM's business or motorcycle development either, apart from providing more discretion. As a privately held company, the bike maker has lesser stakeholders to answer to. That said, a lot of development on products that was earlier open to public disclosure could be curtained. Cross Industries, in a statement said that it will offer 122.5 Euro per share for the remaining shares.
Apart from KTM, Cross Industries is also looking to gain complete control of subsidiary WP Suspension. The move will result in giving Cross control of the entire KTM Group that comprises of brands like KTM AG, KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH, Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH and KISKA Design GmbH.
Also Read: Backed by Bajaj Auto, KTM Registers Record Sales in 2015
On the product front, it is exciting times at the KTM facility with several new products and powertrain in the pipeline. Apart from the new generation Duke and RC models currently under development, the bike maker has also been working on new 500cc and 800cc twin-cylinder engines that will power two new middleweight motorcycles. The new parallel-twin engines will be reportedly based on an all-new platform and will find application across a host of new models.
The Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 & Svartpilen 401 concepts have also been confirmed for production and are likely to make their way to the market by 2017. The interesting bit? These models just might be manufactured in India, with the final assembly taking place at the Austrian facility. That said, details on KTM's future lineup is only expected to come to surface towards the end of this year, possibly around EICMA, while a slew of launches will hit the streets next year.
