Bajaj Auto, KTM to introduce Husqvarna motorcycles in India as part of 10-year anniversary

Key higlights:

• KTM and Bajaj celebrate their 10th anniversary of strategic partnership
• Global roll out of Husqvarna motorcycles in 2018
• Increase of KTM and Husqvarna branded motorcycles, produced in India, from expected 100,000 units in 2017 to over 200,000 units in the next years

Bajaj Auto and KTM announced the global roll out of the Husqvarna motorcycles, which KTM has secured a long-term license agreement, as part of their 10th anniversary celebrations of their partnership this year.

Husqvarna Motorcycles, founded in 1903, is the world’s second oldest motorcycle brand, for which KTM has secured a long-term license agreement in the year 2013. After its new positioning, the volumes have sharply gone up to an all-time high with over 30,000 units sold in 2016.

It also announced an increase of KTM and Husqvarna branded motorcycles, produced in India, from expected 100,000 in 2017 to over 200,000 units in the next year. This enlargement of the cooperation to the Husqvarna Motorcycles brand will elevate the partnership between BAJAJ and KTM to the next level, it said in a statement.

The product lines Duke 125 – 390 and RC 125 – 390 are produced in Bajaj's production facility in Chakan/India and are distributed by the two partners globally.

Stefan Pierer, CEO of KTM AG and Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of BAJAJ Auto Ltd., decided on the strategy to take Husqvarna Motorcycles brand global and scale up the business multiple times. The first models, Vitpilen 401, Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 701 will be produced in Mattighofen, Austria, and launched in early 2018. Later in 2018, the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 production for the global markets will be transferred to Bajaj’s Chakan factory.

BAJAJ aims to sell Husqvarna motorcycles at a similar level as KTM products in India and Indonesia.

The Chakan produced “Joint Products” volume for the global market, which is planned to exceed 100,000 units in 2017, is expected to double to 200,000 units sold in the next years.