BMW released its year-end 2012 financial report, reporting revenues of 1.49 billion euros (US$1.93 billion) from its motorcycle business in 2012, up from 1.44 billion euros in 2011. The increased revenues came in a record year for BMW with the company selling an all-time record of 106,358 motorcycles in 2012.

Despite the increase in sales revenue, BMW reported a much smaller profit from its motorcycle business, earning 9 million euros (US$11.6 million) in 2012, compared to 45 million euros in 2011. The decrease is mainly due to the sale of Husqvarna to Pierer Industries announced earlier this year. BMW says it decided to sell Husqvarna to focus on urban mobility and electric-powered vehicles, though a shrinking market for off-road models was another contributing factor. The sale is still subject to Austrian merger control authorities, which are expected to approve the sale in the first half of 2013. Continue Reading »

The BMW Group has announced the sale of 110-year old Husqvarna Motorcycles to Austrian-based Pierer Industrie AG. “The BMW Group signed a purchase agreement with Pierer Industrie AG (Austria) for the acquisition of Husqvarna Motorcycles. The acquisition will proceed subject to approval by anti-trust authorities. Both companies have agreed not to disclose the purchase price,” says BMW in a press release.

Pierer Industrie AG is the principle shareholder of KTM. Originally a Swedish company, BMW acquired Husqvarna in 2008 when it purchased the Italian Cagiva MV Agusta group. The sale of Husky comes somewhat as a surprise considering the amount of money BMW has spent restructuring the company. BMW says the sale is part of a realigning strategy to focus urban mobility and e-mobility efforts. Continue Reading »