This is a historic break. An aesthetic divorce. A page turning after thirty-five years of near-perfect collaboration. KTM has decided to end its partnership with Kiska Design, the studio that had shaped the visual identity of its motorcycles since the late 1980s. In other words: KTMs as we knew them will no longer exist.
For three and a half decades, sharp silhouettes, angular lines, aggressive optics, and an almost brutal minimalism have been the signature of a single name: KiskaA signature instantly recognizable, which has become inseparable from the DNA of the Austrian brand. Today, this DNA is undergoing a transformation.
The decision goes far beyond a simple change of service provider. KTM has created its own design center in Salzburg, now internalizing the entire aesthetic process. The objective is clear: to regain complete control of product development, reduce costs, accelerate cycles, and align design with the group's industrial strategy.
In the current market context, relying on an external studio no longer aligns with the ongoing restructuring strategy. Design is no longer a peripheral service; it is becoming a strategic pillar integrated into the very heart of the company.
In the background, the influence of Bajaj car is crucial. The Indian giant, a key shareholder in the Austrian group, is pushing for cost rationalization and process simplification. The abandonment of Kiska This is part of this broader dynamic of reorganization.
A gradual but irreversible transition at KTM, and a shock for Kiska
The break-up has serious consequences. Kiska employed approximately 160 people and generated nearly 26 million euros in annual revenuea major part of which came directly from KTMLosing its long-standing client, the one who built its international reputation, represents a seismic event for the studio.
During 35 years, KTM and Kiska formed almost a single creative entity. Duke French RC, passing through the Adventure and the radical variations of HusqvarnaThe stylistic signature was consistent: aggressive, angular, immediately identifiable. This link is now broken.
The transformation will not be instantaneous, however. Projects already underway will be completed under the current collaboration. The new internal team will gradually ramp up its operations as product cycles evolve.
Ironically, one of the last major projects of Kiska for KTM It was not about a complete motorcycle, but about the new 8,8-inch TFT screens that already equip some 2026 models. Interface, display, ergonomics, driving modes, electronic aids, graphic identity… the studio intervened down to the last pixel.
The break is therefore total: KTM It's not just changing its line, it's changing its philosophy.
What will the “new” one look like? KTM That's the big unknown. The sharp, almost martial design had become a global signature. Abandoned Kiska potentially means redefining this identity, or even softening it, refining it or radicalizing it in a different way.
And what about Husqvarnawhose clean and contemporary minimalism owes a great deal to Kiska The group's visual uniformity could be completely rethought.
This choice is bold. Risky too. Because when such a strongly identified brand decides to break with the architect of its image, it plays a delicate game: preserving its character without falling into anonymity.
By internalizing the design, KTM It claims to want more consistency, more speed, and more strategic control. But by breaking with 35 years of stylistic history, it is also taking the gamble of reinventing its identity. The next KTM They will be different. But will they still be immediately recognizable?
