Crisis Averted? Audi Plans to Hold on To Ducati for A Little Longer, Scrapping Plans of Putting it up on the Market
After it was revealed that the Volkswagen MPV was emitting excessive levels of nitrogen oxide, the parent-company of Audi, and subsequently, Ducati, beseeched banks for other options for their motorcycle brand and transmissions maker Renk – the former apparently placed on the chopping block to cut their expenses and raise money for the expected $30 billion in diesel expenditures as well as their venture into making electric cars.
(Image: Ducati)
However, recent reports are now saying that Audi has withdrawn its plans for selling Ducati as they see “no economic need” for such a move, according to Chief Executive Rupert Stadler. He was notably confident of their ability to carry the costs of Ducati’s transformation when he spoke to Reuters.
Stadler further assured loyal Ducati devotees by saying that “Ducati belongs to the Audi family” and is the “perfect implementation” of their “premium philosophy in the world of motorbikes”. As they try to rise precariously from beneath their crises, Stadler maintained that “holding on to the profitable Ducati division” is of high importance now more than ever.
(Image: Ducati)
That is not to say, though, that VW will not change its mind as investors and potential buyers of Ducati remark on the low strategic importance of the motorcycle brand to the automotive powerhouse. Therefore, there is still a possibility that they might still eventually sell it.
Ducati has belonged to Audi for almost five years now, an acquisition that cost them $935 million.