Bajaj Increases Stake in KTM

Dennis Chung
by Dennis Chung

India’s Bajaj Auto has acquired an additional 6.3% stake in KTM, raising its share of the Austrian manufacturer to 47%.

According to Economic Times, Bajaj purchased the latest 6.3% through a Netherlands-based subsidiary. Bajaj first acquired a portion KTM in 2007, purchasing a 14.5% stake.

India’s second-largest motorcycle manufacturer has since been steadily increasing its ownership stake in KTM, though in a recent interview with Economic Times, Rajiv Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto and a member of KTM’s supervisory board, said Bajaj does not want to gain a majority stake. KTM Chief Executive Officer Stefan Pierer and supervisory board Chair Rudolf Knünz together hold about 51%.

Bajaj’s stake in KTM has led to some collaborative projects in recent years, most notably the 125 Duke and 200 Duke. Both low-displacement streetbikes have proven popular sellers in 2012, both in Europe as well as in India. Bajaj has also produced its own version of the Duke in the Bajaj Pulsar 200NS.

[Source: Economic Times; Photo by Schedl R.]

Dennis Chung
Dennis Chung

Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.

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