Husqvarna was acquired by Stefan Pierer, KTM’s CEO, back in 2013 from BMW Motorrad.
EICMA 2016 saw Husqvarna paint their comeback story with new road-going models, the Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401. Both bikes were expected to be built in India but now an article in Pistonheads says otherwise.
The interview story with the MD says that unlike KTM, all its models will be built in Austria. The facility in Mattighofen has been producing Huskys since October 2013. The engine for the Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 is the same single cylinder, liquid-cooled mill doing duty in the new KTM Duke 390 and will be manufactured in India.
Husqvarna’s Managing director, Mr Oliver Goering, believes that manufacturing the bikes in Europe will give them a premium image. This can possibly mean that the new road going Huskys will be priced at a premium (as compared to the KTM Duke 390).
Husqvarna has been through a lot of doldrums. Be it during the MV Agusta-Cagiva days or BMW Motorrad later. Their A-Game has always been off-road products but with the new road going motorcycles, they want a bigger share of the market. With 21,500 units sold in 2016, Husqvarna reported a 32 percent growth on a year on year basis. This year their target is 30,000 units.
With time Husqvarna wants to produce 60,000 motorcycles a year with the brand being one of the top three motorcycle manufacturers in Europe.
[Source: PistonHeads]
