Eicher Motors Set to Make $2 Billion Ducati Bid
Michael Scott | September 8, 2017
Royal Enfield Owners Still Want Ducati, According to The Times
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 story comes despite a claim by fellow news outlet Reuters suggesting the sale of Ducati is on hold.
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.
The potential sale of the Ducati brand has been fraught with dramas, not least of which being the Volkswagen labor unions that makeup half the chairs on the Volkswagen board, who were vehemently opposed to any sale of the brand.
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.