KTM say that the first nine months of 2014 saw the company sell 115,731 KTM and Husqvarna brand motorcycles, the highest ever achieved by the Austrian manufacturer for the period.
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| The Freeride E-SM is a "dedicated sport motorcycle, powered by electricity, for urban areas, that complies with the restrictions of the A1 licence, so 16 year olds can ride it on public roads" |
The company says that the "successful launch of the new 1290 SuperDuke and the start of sales of the new Husqvarna model range were crucial for the success" and that KTM achieved an 8.4% share of the European market for the period concerned.
Profits are said to have increased by 34% to €61.3m, with net margin increased to 9.5% from the 8.5% recorded for the year-ago period. The company, which is 48% owned by India's giant Baja Auto, says it expects to have seen further increases in sales and revenue performance once their full 2014 financial year is concluded.
In September the company underlined its continued commitment to new product developments with the securing of a six year R&D loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
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| KTM CEO Stefan Pierer (seen here third from right) with Friedrich Roithner (front, third from left), VP of the European Investment Bank. KTM has secured a 6 year €75m EIB RD loan |
The focus of research that the loan will fund will be road safety, fuel consumption, lightweight construction and electric mobility projects.
In which connection, KTM has now put its Freeride E into volume production with selected dealers in the first markets to be targeted for the bike, undergoing high voltage training in advance of dealer deliveries - scheduled in the early part of 2015.
There are three versions, with the E-SX intended for closed circuit riding, the E-XC being fitted with everything required for riding on public roads, and the E-SM, which KTM describes as a "dedicated sport motorcycle for urban areas".
KTM has hired You Tube street trials star Danny MacAskill as an official Freeride E ambassador, and feedback from KTM's E-Parks around Europe "has been really positive for this quality product, which we hope to see on many tracks and trails in the near future", according to KTM's Thomas Kuttruf.
Weighing 110 kg and delivering 11 kW of continuous power, the ESM complies with the restrictions of the A1 driving licence, so 16 year olds can use it on public roads.
The 300V lithium-ion battery is said to provide up to an hour of riding power at a capacity of 2.6 kWh and 16 kW of peak power.
www.ktmfreeride-e.com
