Many motorbike riders were perplexed when the German automaker Audi acquired the Italian maker of motorcycles Ducati in April of last year. The passionate supporters of the flamboyantly Italian Ducati marque wept, fearing that the automotive behemoth would impose Teutonic stiffness on it.
There was no need to wring one’s hands. Audi’s other well-known Italian asset, Lamborghini, is not micromanaged by the company. And in a July speech to Ducati employees, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler made a crucial pledge: “Ladies and gentlemen…you have my guarantee: Ducati remains Ducati.
I recently traveled to Bilbao, Spain, for the 2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200’s global press debut. We had a 24-hour stopover in Munich, Germany, on our way from Los Angeles to Bilbao, which allowed us the chance to guzzle liters of dunkel and eat sausages, sauerkraut, and pretzels in the Hofbrauhaus during Oktoberfest. However, a trip to the Audi Museum at the company’s headquarters in Ingolstadt, about an hour from Munich, was the main reason for our time in Bavaria.
I didn’t know much about Audi because I’m not a car guy, and I had no idea of the company’s lengthy history. I was surprised to see a large number of motorcycles amid the dozens of cars that were produced over a century ago. And they weren’t only there to placate a few moto-journalists from North America. The motorcycles are a permanent display in the museum.
In 1899, August Horch founded his own vehicle business, A. Horch & Cie. After being fired from the supervisory board ten years later, Horch started a new business named Audi. (Horch is German for “hear,” and Audi is Latin for “to listen. Auto Union was created in the early 1930s when Horch, DKW, and Wanderer united with Audi. German manufacturers of both cars and motorcycles were DKW and Wanderer. The symbol with four interlocking ringsone for each firm in the unionbegan to be utilized, and it is still present in the Audi logo today.
Some Auto Union trademarks vanished as a result of World War II’s turbulence and the shifting dynamics of the German auto industry, and the firm experienced a wave of mergers and acquisitions. In 1958, Daimler-Benz bought Auto Union, but due to poor financial performance, soon sold company. Midway through the 1960s, Volkswagen purchased Vehicle Union, and in 1969, the business amalgamated with NSU, a different German auto and motorbike producer.
Audi established itself as a recognized global brand in the 1970s and the first part of the 1980s, whereas Auto Union and NSU were consigned to obscurity. Motorized two-wheelers have played a significant role in the rich history of the corporation, even though motorbikes have never been produced under the Audi brand and are not likely to do so in the future. The Audi Museum doesn’t currently have any Ducatis, but they will blend in perfectly.
(We sincerely apologize for the few blurry pictures. The low light levels and my shaky hand contributed to the blurry quality of all the photos, which were all taken with my iPhone.)
In This Article...
Does Audi produce Ducati?
The Italian conglomerate is the subject of this essay. See Ducati for a list of businesses (disambiguation).
The headquarters of the Ducati group of enterprises are in Borgo Panigale, Bologna, Italy, and they are best known for producing bikes. Through its Italian affiliate Lamborghini, which is in turn owned by the Volkswagen Group, German automaker Audi owns the group. [1]
Currently, the group consists of four businesses:
- Previously known as Ducati Meccanica, the motorcycle-manufacturing division Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
- Ducati Motor Holding owns 100% of Ducati Corse, which manages the Ducati motorcycle racing program.
- Formerly known as Ducati Elettronica, Ducati Energia is a designer and producer of electrical and electronic systems.
- Providing electronic and information technology products for uses in road transport, railroad transport, and transport automation is Ducati Sistemi, a division of Ducati Energia.
Ducati produced electrical goods such razors, cameras, and radios throughout the 1930s and 1940s. During World War II, Ducati also produced a marine binocular known as the BIMAR for the Kriegsmarine, some of which were later offered on the civilian market. [2] A collector’s item today, the Ducati Sogno was a half-frame Leica-like camera. A new brand of racing bicycles has been created and introduced by Ducati and Bianchi. [3]
Ducati Energia’s electrical parts and systems are frequently used by Ducati Motor Holding.
[Reference needed]
Which automakers produce motorcycles?
I am aware of your thoughts. Honda, BMW, Suzuki, and Peugeot are just a few of the manufacturers of both vehicles and motorcycles. They have effectively run both shows and don’t appear to be getting older or having problems with either one because of the other. With its “The Sports Ride” concept, Yamaha is likewise vying for a share of the four-wheeled market.
But what if luxury automakers like Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Mustang, and Porsche also produced motorcycles? Of sure, that would be fantastic, but what would they look like? We may have a solution for that, though. Many thanks to the staff at the UK dealership Jennings Harley-Davidson, which has locations in Leeds and Gateshead.
They have created six extremely insane motorcycle designs that capture the style and personality of the products the company really produces.
Who is the biggest motorbike manufacturer?
An American motorbike manufacturer is called Harley-Davidson. It was one of the two major American motorcycle producers to survive the Great Depression and was founded in 1903. The business is one of the biggest motorcycle producers in the world, and the brand is well known for its devoted following. There are owner organizations, gatherings, and a company-sponsored, brand-focused museum all over the world.
The Honda Motor Company is a publicly traded, multinational Japanese conglomerate corporation best known for producing cars, motorcycles, and power tools. Since 1959, it has been the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, and by the end of 2019, has produced 400 million motorcycles.
A Japanese motorbike manufacturer is called Yamaha Motor Co. The business was founded in 1955. Motorcycles, scooters, powered bicycles, boats, sailboats, personal watercraft, swimming pools, utility boats, fishing boats, off-road recreational vehicles, go-kart engines, and golf carts are just a few of its products. The second-largest motorbike manufacturer in the world is Yamaha.
The Japanese public multinational firm Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. is best known for producing motorcycles, motors, heavy machinery, aerospace and defense equipment, rolling stock, and ships. Along with other industrial goods, it also manufactures gas turbines, boilers, and industrial robots.
Automobiles, four-wheel-drive vehicles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, outboard marine engines, wheelchairs, and numerous other small internal combustion engines are all produced by Suzuki Motor Corporation, a Japanese company. The third-largest motorbike sales volume in Japan belongs to Suzuki.
McLaren produces motorcycles, right?
Compared to a motorcycle, the 2020 McLaren 720S Spider is quicker. It is real! In a quarter-mile drag race, Autocar pitted the aforementioned McLaren against a 2019 BMW S1000RR liter bike and an Ariel Atom. Simply put, the McLaren has 710 horsepower more, and its 305-width rear tires provide excellent traction. Due to its reduced weight, the BMW bike had an early advantage in the race. However, where you finish is more important than where you begin. And the McLaren won the competition. That’s only the newest model, too! With the McLaren P1, McLaren has been able to outperform motorcycles since 2013. Although a 2008 Suzuki GSX-R1000 might be able to keep up, the P1 would prevail by a small margin. Its Mid-Mounted 3.8L V-8 combined with an electric motor produces an amazing 903 horsepower and has a top speed of 217 mph.
Do Toyota motorcycles exist?
A leader in the automobile sector on a global scale is Toyota Motor Corporation. The Japanese automaker offers a wide range of vehicles, including off-road pickup trucks and humanoid robots. However, there is one automobile from the manufacturera bike that we hardly ever see. Toyota produces motorcycles, right?
Short response? No. Currently, Toyota doesn’t produce any motorcycles. However, a division of Toyo Motors did produce these in the past.
Additionally, there are mobility initiatives like the i-ROAD, scooters, and a SEMA motocross concept. In reality, it’s unclear whether Toyota will ever produce a motorcycle in large quantities. It’s simple to assume that whatever it came up with would definitely be a really rad bike given all the racing roots and off-road DNA. Let’s look at some of Toyota motorcycle production history.
Which bike brand is the best in the world?
In addition to dominating the automobile business, Honda Motors Company Ltd. has developed into the largest motorbike manufacturer in the world.
The corporation currently operates 33 production sites across 22 different countries. With the help of its wholly owned subsidiary Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India Pvt, the corporation conducts business in India.
Ltd, a company based in Manesar, Gurgaon. In the Indian market, the corporation holds a market share of about 27%. ATVs and motorbikes together were produced by the business in a total of 19,554 thousand units. This is an increase of 10.7% from the prior year. One of their products, Super Cub, passed the 100 million unit mark in 2017. Sales increased in Europe and Asia, particularly in India and Vietnam, whereas their respective big markets, the United States, Brazil, and Japan, saw declines. The company’s revenues in Brazil dropped dramatically, falling by around 28 percent as a result of the country’s ongoing economic crisis. The company has begun working toward the electrification of its motorcycle by focusing this more on its commuter models while striving toward sustainability and an environmentally friendly future for the industry. The company is committed to release a few models before the end of this year, including an electric scooter. The corporation has started to invest in the research and development of systems that have a mobile battery that is easily replaceable and rechargeable in this area. On the list of best bike brands, Honda comes in first place.
Rank 2. Harley Davidson
The American company Harley Davidson has significantly impacted the motorcycle industry.
The business was established in the city of Wisconsin in 1903, and since then it has grown to be a cult motorbike brand. The company wants to build a bike brand that is recognizable globally and commands attention thanks to its powerful build and performance. Revenue for the business fell by 12% to $5.3B. Harley Davidson has operations in more than 100 nations and has bought out businesses to expand. The business employs a sizable workforce and has operations in more than 100 nations. The brand has made significant development investments and is reaping the benefits.
Its portfolio includes a large number of bikes, most of which fall into one of the six categories (Street, V-rod, Dyna, Sportster, Touring, and Soft tail), each of which is distinguished by its engine, chassis, suspension, and other features.
Rank 3. Hero Moto Corp
Hero is one of the top brands in the Indian industry, with a market share of more than 50% for motorcycles and a market share of about 40% for two-wheelers.
Six manufacturing facilities overall for the corporation, five of which are in India and one in Columbia. Additionally, the business has increased its global presence to 35 different nations and is slated to open its seventh production facility in Bangladesh. The 100-125cc motorbike market is where the company is most dominant. The company is attempting to enter the premium market, which has increased by around $20 since the previous year. Due to regional political and economic considerations, there was a 5.9 percent decrease in two-wheeler exports. The corporation has set its sights primarily on Bangladesh and Nepal, both of which have consistently displayed double-digit growth. Because of the huge demand for entry-level motorcycles in Bangladesh in particular, the company’s decision to establish a manufacturing unit there is warranted. The business recently launched the campaign “Tackle phony, be safe to fight the threat of spurious parts.” The business has teamed up with German off-road racing expert Speedbrain Gmbh in order to establish itself on the motorsports scene. The business has also partnered with Global Golf tournaments and last year created the Her Challenge at the British Masters. By forming a partnership with Ather Energy, a start-up in the two-wheeler EV market, the company has forayed into the world of electric mobility. One of the top bike brands both domestically and internationally is Hero.
Rank 4. Bajaj Auto
A manufacturing company with its headquarters in Pune, India is called Bajaj Auto.
Bajaj Auto continues to be one of the top worldwide bike brands despite a 4.3 percent reduction in sales volume and a 5 percent increase in income. In reality, for the past four years, the company’s motorcycle division has not experienced any growth. The company’s downward sloping growth curve gives their top management pause because they are the second largest motorbike manufacturer in India and the fourth largest in the world in terms of revenue and volume. The company’s export market has also suffered, as evidenced by the 16 percent decline in motorbike exports. The world’s economies having been severely impacted by a significant currency devaluation is the cause. One of the industry’s pioneers in promoting women’s empowerment is Bajaj Auto. According to the corporation, all of its plants feature female workers who work in all departments. An all-female staff at the Chakan Plant operates an assembly line that creates high-end motorcycles like the Dominar 400 and Pulsar RS 200. Additionally, Bajaj Auto has subsidiaries like Bajaj Auto International Holdings BV, a wholly owned Dutch subsidiary of Bajaj Auto Ltd., and holds a 48 percent stake in KTM AG of Austria (KTM), which is regarded as the world’s fastest-growing motorcycle brand and is quickly rising to the top bike brands globally.
Rank 5. BMW
The parent firm of the BMW Group, a market leader in automobiles and motorbikes, is BMW AG.
The corporation has its headquarters in Munich, Germany, and focuses mostly on the services and products of the automotive, engine, machinery, and metalworking industries. Automotive, motorcycles, and financial services are its three main industry segments. The business has almost 1.3 million employees and does business in more than 150 nations worldwide. The corporation uses the name BMW Motorrad to conduct business in the motorcycle industry. With models larger than 250 cc, including Sport, Tour, Roadster, Heritage, Adventure, and Urban Mobility, the business competes in the premium part of the worldwide motorcycle market. With fewer sales units, this segment enables it to generate a bigger revenue. BWM’s Motarrad motorbike branch saw a considerable increase in both its sales volume and the amount of money it brought in for the business. The business was able to surpass the 150000 mark in sales volume for the first time. In comparison to the prior year, it was able to increase by 1,45,032 to a total of 1,64,153. This 13.2 percent increase is substantial. This boost in sales was brought on by the explosive growth of motorcycle sales in Europe, with France experiencing a 24.4% increase in sales volume, ranking it among the top five brands. Spain and Italy both had double-digit growth. The USA saw a decline in sales, nevertheless. During that time, the business introduced six new motorbike models and five revised versions.
Rank 6. TVS
In terms of size and sales, TVS Motor Company is the biggest of the 90 firms that make up the TVS group.
Companies involved in finance, vehicles, aviation, education, insurance, electronics, textiles, investments, housing, services, and logistics make up the TVS group. The business is a motorcycle industry pioneer and the third-largest two-wheeler producer in India. Both sales and revenue for TVS Motors’ motorcycle and two-wheeler divisions have increased by double digits. The company has been outperforming the industry three years in a row, and it continually sets higher standards for both itself and its rivals. Every year, the company can produce 3.2 million products. Three primary manufacturing facilities, three of which are in Indiaone each in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradeshproduce the company’s automobiles. The fourth facility is in Indonesia. The organization attributes its rapid success to its ongoing dedication to innovation. By introducing seven new items on the same day, it accomplished a remarkable feat. The business introduced the TVS Ntorq 125 in 2018, the country’s first scooter with Bluetooth and smart connectivity. With daily work management, Total Quality Management, a total employee involvement program, and Kaizen, to name a few, the organization places a major emphasis on quality improvement. The business has also made a number of efforts to offer a cleaner and greener product. All of the company’s goods, according to the company, are 85% recyclable. The business was also the first to equip its motorcycle with a catalytic converter. In the future, the company intends to introduce electric scooters and three-wheelers with CNG and LPG alternatives.
Rank 7. KTM
Powersports vehicle manufacturer KTM AG is well-known for creating cutting-edge, fashion-forward vehicles on a regular basis.
The company, which is a premium maker of high-performance motorbikes for both on- and off-road use, is headquartered in Mattighofen, Austria, along with its research and development facility. Bajaj Auto and KTM Industries AG jointly own the business. The business is run by the subsidiaries Husqvarna Motorcycle GMBH, KTM Sportcar GMBH, KTM Technologies GMBH, and KTM Immobilien GMBH, along with smaller ownership shares in W Verwaltungs AG. KTM AG has already surpassed other European motorcycle manufacturers with a market share of 10% in Europe and 8% in the USA. By expanding its sales and revenue, the company set a new milestone in 2017, making it seven years in a row. The largest increase in sales among all motorcycle manufacturers worldwide was 17.2 percent. Under the brands KTM and Husqvarna, a total of 238,408 vehicles were sold in 2017. Revenue increased by 16.6 percent to $1.92 billion during the same period. Since there is predicted expansion in places like Europe, North America, and the ASEAN nations, 2018 will once again be a highly crucial year for the organization. In order to capitalize on this, the business intends to grow Husqvarna’s yearly sales to 400,000 units and position Husqvarna as the third-largest motorcycle manufacturer in Europe. Additionally, the business entered the MotoGP, which has garnered a lot of interest for it.
Rank 8. Piaggio
The company also operates a research & development facility called the Piaggio Group Advanced Design Center in California, USA. One of the biggest two-wheeler manufacturers in Europe is the Piaggio company, which focuses on scooters, motorcycles, and mopeds with engines between 50 and 1400cc. It mostly deals with Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Vespa, Piaggio, Derby, and Scarabeo brands and products. In addition to the two-wheeler market, the business offers a line of three- and four-wheel commercial vehicles under the Ape, Quargo, and Porter models. In addition, the Piaggio group owns a 45 percent stake in Zongshen Piaggio Foshan Motorcycles, a Chinese business. The company does not include the information from this joint venture in the financial outcome of the Group. As a result, it ranks among the top bike brands globally. The corporation depends on Aprilia and Moto Guzzi in the European market to increase sales and profitability in the European and North American market. In India, it is employing the Vespa line to expand its market share. The company’s two-wheeler sales have increased overall by 9.3 percent, bringing its total net sales to 3,76,000 units. This has contributed to $1,176 billion in overall income, a 3.7 percent increase from the previous year. With 54 world championships won to date, 38 of them in world championships, 7 in superbikes, and 9 in off-road disciplines, Aprilia has proven to be one of the most successful brands in the history of motorcycle racing and is one of the top bike manufacturers in the world.