Audi might buy Ducati?

[Grey Thumper]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/ ... MJ20120313

Interesting. I kind of wish it was Fiat Group (since they own Ferrari), but I suppose being bought out by VW Group would be more advantageous for Ducati.

[jstark47]

I heard that Hero Motocorp (formerly Hero Honda) was looking at buying Ducati.

[Grey Thumper]

Did a bit of Googling. You're right, they're in the running too. I wonder what's the real story? Is it gonna be Audi or Hindi? (ok, that was pretty awful).

[Brackstone]

I seriously hope it's Audi

[Scott58]

Yeah, but if Kia bought them I might be able to afford one!

[Wrider]

But it'd be slow, ugly, and less reliable than any current Duc!

[Grey Thumper]

Well, looks like its practically a done deal

Audi to pay $1.12 billion for Ducati: sources

By Andreas Cremer and Jan Schwartz

BERLIN/HAMBURG | Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:17am EDT

(Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) Audi premium-car division has agreed to buy Italian motorcycle company Ducati for about 860 million euros ($1.12 billion) including debt, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

Ducati's liabilities are well below 200 million euros, one of the people said. Audi has reached a pact with Ducati's main shareholder, Investindustrial and plans to announce the acquisition on Wednesday, sources told Reuters last week.

Analysts including Arndt Ellinghorst at London-based Credit Suisse questioned the industrial benefit of the Ducati purchase, saying it was an unnecessary sideshow to VW's main challenges of integrating sports-car maker Porsche (PSHG_p.DE) and merging truck operations at MAN (MANG.DE) and Scania (SCVb.ST).

"The Ducati acquisition is driven by VW's passion for nameplates rather than industrial or financial logic," said Ellinghorst.

Ducati will increase the VW group's brand portfolio to twelve and extend Audi's long-standing rivalry with Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMWG.DE) to superbikes. VW's eleven-brand entity already makes everything from fuel-efficient city cars to 40-tonne trucks.

Audi and Investindustrial may agree to withhold the exact purchasing price in the statement, which they plan to publish on the eve of VW's annual shareholders' meeting in Hamburg, one of the sources said.

The people declined to be identified because the matter remains confidential.

[totalmotorcycle]

This is going to be very interesting then! I am a little worries about the ""The Ducati acquisition is driven by VW's passion for nameplates rather than industrial or financial logic," said Ellinghorst." part... Audi might just sit on Ducati OR might pour more money into it...

If the car manufacturers start the M&A of bike manufacturers it also would be interesting to see if bike technology is seen more in cars or visa versa...

Mike

[dr_bar]

...also would be interesting to see if bike technology is seen more in cars or visa versa... Mike

So youre thinking maybe cars will start to lean into corners??? Windshield wipers and air conditioning on bikes???

[totalmotorcycle]

...also would be interesting to see if bike technology is seen more in cars or visa versa... Mike

So youre thinking maybe cars will start to lean into corners??? Windshield wipers and air conditioning on bikes???

LOL...

Well, maybe automatic headlights, electronic or power steering, improved alternators, composite plastics, HID headlights, lighter alloys, traction control, sport modes, etc.. I know some bikes today have a few of these features but maybe more bikes will en-masse?

Mike