KTM Industries AG Group has announced a corporate Group level name-change in order to recognise the increasing importance to its balance sheet of its "emerging brands" - especially considering the developments in the e-mobility sector - and to future-proof its reporting and corporate strategic planning.
As Europe's "leading manufacturer" of "powered two-wheelers", producing in series all drive technologies from combustion engines to electric motors, upcoming brands such as "Husqvarna Motorcycles", "Husqvarna Bicycles", "Raymon" and the component brand "WP" will now appear alongside the core brand "KTM" under the PIERER Mobility AG umbrella.
The Group continued its growth in the first half of 2019, registering Group revenue of EUR 754.9 million. This corresponds to growth of +4.2% (excluding the Pankl-Group) compared with the same period during the previous year and lies at the upper end of the company's expectations.
With a total of 135,711 motorcycles sold in the first half of the year (+7% compared to the previous year - 115,318 KTM motorcycles and 20,393 Husqvarna motorcycles) "the Group strengthened its position as Europe's largest motorcycle manufacturer. At EUR 46.6 million, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in the first half of 2019 were significantly over budget.
During the first six months of the current financial year KTM Industries Group ("KTM") outperformed the overall market (+2.7%) in its key motorcycle markets (> 120cc), with its KTM and Husqvarna Motorcycles brands, with an increase in registrations of +5.2%.
"In the most important future market for KTM, India, KTM registrations in the first half of the year increased by over 35% in comparison with the previous year. Its market share rose from around 4.3% to around 6.8% with 32,539 (+7,672) KTM bikes already sold in India and Indonesia via our strategic partner Bajaj.
In July 2019, KTM AG increased its equity holding in Motorcycle Distributors Australia Pty Ltd from 26% to 100%. The sales subsidiaries in Australia and New Zealand therefore becoming wholly owned subsidiaries of the KTM Group.
"With over 10,000 KTM and Husqvarna motorcycles sold, the Australian and New Zealand business has developed into the world's third largest market, meaning that Motorcycle Distributors Australia Pty Ltd is KTM AG's third largest subsidiary".
In June 2019, KTM Industries AG and Bajaj Auto Ltd. decided to launch a series of development projects for PTW electric vehicles in the performance range of between 3 and 10 kW (48 V) at KTM AG level. The platform will support various product variants - powered two-wheelers and electric bicycles - under the brands of both partners.
"Series production will begin by 2022 at Bajaj's production location in Pune, India. This will represent a further significant step in strengthening the cooperation with Bajaj. The Bajaj Group has also further strengthened its commitment to the KTM Industries-Group and the board of Bajaj Auto has approved to acquire 1% of the shares in KTM Industries
