BMW sells Husqvarna

BMW has sold Husqvarna to Austrian company Pierer Industrie AG, a company owned by the same group which owns KTM, making the new KTM-Husqvarna grouping one of the world's largest manufacturers of premium off-road motorcycles.

The deal will see Pierer Industrie take complete control of Husqvarna.

In a press statement BMW explained that it has decided to sell off Husqvarna because it wants to focus on road bikes, scooters, dual sport and tourer models. The fact that Husqvarna is not presently turning a profit is likely a contributing factor of the sale.

"The BMW Group is realigning its BMW Motorrad business," reads the BMW statement. "The focus of the realignment will be on urban mobility and e-mobility."

BMW also confirmed that it would release its new 'C evolution' electric scooter in 2014, adding that "Further innovative vehicle concepts are also under consideration."

What KTM stands to gain out of the deal is a bigger share of the European market and it will also benefit from the technology BMW poured into Husqvarna models such as the Nuda. It's also likely that we'll see new Husqvarna models based on KTM platforms and possibly vice versa in the next few years.

Originally a Swedish brand, Husqvarna was bought out by Italian-based Cagiva/MV Agusta in 1987 and has been headquartered in Italy ever since. In 2008 BMW bought Husqvarna and now the company has moved alongside Austrian brand KTM, which is run by Pierer Industrie AG.

Based in Varese, Italy, Husqvarna sells several motorcycles in Australia via independent importer, Paul Feeney Group, with models such as the new Nuda 900 and motard SMR road bikes.

The mainstay of the fleet are dirt bikes however: TE enduro bikes, TC motocross models, plus WR, CR and TXC variants.