There was more Ducati news of a different kind and in a different part of town in the same day – with the company set to change hands again, and a possible new Indian owner.
According to a report in British daily paper The Times, Eicher Motors, owners of Royal Enfield, “is set to make a binding bid … of up to $2 billion by the deadline at the end of the month.”
The Italian company has been through several changes of ownership in the last decade, and was bought by the Volkswagen Audi Group in 2010. VAG put the company on the market in April, to help fund compensation payments in the wake of the diesel emissions scandal.
According to The Times, other companies that have shown an interest include Harley-Davidson, Suzuki and India’s Bajaj Auto. Ducati’s world lead in desmodromic (positive mechanical closing) valve actuation could be a valuable prize to the buyer. However, while the bikes are built in Italy, the Indian deal has faced resistance from German trade unions.
The final decision is scheduled for a supervisory board meeting on September 29.