Ducati had its best year since 2008 in the MotoGP World Championship in 2017. And motorcycle sales reached 55 copies, a new historic record for the Bolognese firm founded in 451 by Antonio, Adriano, Bruno and Marcello Cavalieri Ducati.
On the occasion of his 75th personal birthday, Volkswagen patriarch Ferdinand Piëch gave himself a special gift. He bought Ducati Motor Holding and Ducati Corse for a total of 860 million euros. Brand collector Piëch (Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Seat, Škoda, Volkswagen, Ducati, Man, Scania) had long been unhappy that Audi had not continued its two-wheeled past with NSU and DKW.
Ducati is currently moving in the right direction, and it's not over if we are to believe its CEO Claudio Domenicali: “In 2018 a new adventure begins for us. We are launching new models on the market. The Panigale V4 is very important. We did not yet have such a motorcycle in our range. It is very close to MotoGP machines. The engine comes directly from the motorcycles that race in Grand Prix. It's a perfect technology transfer from GP."
Domenicali is also pleased with the good sales figures: “2017 is a record for Ducati, we are developing new motorcycles and penetrating more and more markets. 2017 was an exceptional year for us, sportingly and economically. »
“We have designed some extraordinary models for 2018. It will also be an important year for the Scrambler series. The growth will be great. This includes the new 1100s. There are lots of improvements and great technologies. If you like the Scrambler design, you will be well served. But even those looking for something more can find it. »
“Our company is internationally oriented. We have limits, but we want to grow. We will continue to invest. In terms of motorcycles, but also cars, the technical developments are currently very interesting. These include autonomous driving and electric vehicles. These trends will also affect the motorcycle industry. We want to actively participate in these technical advances and are therefore proud to be part of the Volkswagen Group. We have everything related to technology and research, so we can look forward to a bright future. »
Photos © Ducati
Source: Speedweek. com
