Audi to buy Duc...

[SergioK]

in order to "fulfil its chairman’s ambition."
Audi in talks to buy Italy’s Ducati - FT.com

[BoxerFanatic]

New cross-town intra-germany rival for BMW Motorrad. I hope it kicks BMW into gear on the motorcycle front.

It might be interesting to see Ducati and Lamborghini under the same umbrella. I always used to get a bit more of a 'ferrari' vibe from Ducati, so it will be interesting to see.

[1%er]

Is there nothing left that's sacred. The last time the Germans and the Italians got together, Europe was a disaster area. This can't be good for the Italians.

[GotRoad?]

I read about this in an auto rag. It's been part of the Ducati business plan for several years to sell itself to a buyer with deep pockets & a commitment to the brand. The outcome could have been much, much worse.

[Nitro]

Ducati has 800 million euros in debt, no wonder why they are looking to sell one more time!

[signit98]

Originally Posted by 1%er

Is there nothing left that's sacred. The last time the Germans and the Italians got together, Europe was a disaster area. This can't be good for the Italians.

I hope you are not religious then... the current Pope is a German.

You also missed a few events, in terms of technical collaboration between German and Italian companies, so I guess your name refers to the amount of stuff you actually catch?




(Do I need to insert Bills "download progress animation here?)

[1%er]

Are you out of your mind Signet98! Trying to interject religious debate into a tech forum. I don't recognize any Pope other than the base in North Carolina. And there is a big difference between collaboration and German ownership of manufacturing and marketing of a red motorcycle. Italian is a romance language, Germain is not. This Euro crap is getting harder to swallow. I'd rather see Audi buy BMW Motorrad to save it.

[GotRoad?]

Originally Posted by 1%er

I'd rather see Audi buy BMW Motorrad to save it.

Then please wave your magic wand & make it happen...or just get over it.

[R111S]

VW AG owns:
19.9% Suzuki Motor Corporation
Audi AG
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
Auto Union
Bentley Motors Limited
Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S
Dampf-Kraft-Wagen (DKW)
Horch
Italdesign Giugiaro
MAN SE
NSU Motorenwerke AG
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
Scania AB
Seat S.A.
Škoda automobilová a.s.
Wanderer
Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
???...

[Kraut.Burner]

I wonder to what effect this is going to have on Duc's production, in terms of quality control.

[Chris Canning]

Originally Posted by Kraut.Burner

I wonder to what effect this is going to have on Duc's production, in terms of quality control.

There's a man in a time warp for you

[1100s nut]

Originally Posted by 1%er

Audi buy BMW Motorrad to save it.

Are you kidding? BMW motorrad is probably making more money and in better health than any motorcycle company on the planet. BMW is selling a LOT of cars and bikes. (they are doing something right)Infact so much so that the plant in SC is running at 100%. Also the great car brand Lamborghini would not have survived this last recession without Audi.....their production numbers dropped off the chart for a few years....they have recovered somewhat.

Lane

PS. I would like add one point about them dumb Germans. There has not been much large construction/plant expansion here....But the four that come to mind are, BMW,Siemens,continental and VW. On the other hand the great American company GE is moving jobs offshore as fast as they can.

[bradzdotcom]

audi buying ducati.

what's the german word for "turducken"?

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by bradzdotcom

audi buying ducati.

what's the german word for "turducken"?

audcati?

[Meeni]

R111S: Actually, it is Porsche that owns VW, not the other way around.
It is kind of surprising that Duc makes such hefty losses, they have never sold so many bikes historically. Did they undergo precarious acquisitions of dying brands recently ?

[jaytee]

I'm pretty sure Porche's bid for VW fell through and VW is going through the final process of acquiring Porche as we type.

But I'm strictly going from memory of some business section byline I read over a week ago so I could have my story crossed up...

[1100s nut]

I think Porsche owns a large % in VW but less than 50%....also voting rights.

Lane

[Noblehops]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

audcati?

Ducaudi?

[SergioK]

The way I see it, Ducs will get German reliability with beautiful Italian design. Win all around.

[TX_Biker_Scum]

Is this the true meaning of 'odd duck'?