Ducati rolls into China

Who would have thought this possible in China a decade ago: riding a Ducati to Disneyland?

It will certainly occur sometime down the track, as Ducati has just opened its first official retail store in - you guessed it  -- Shanghai, and word has just come though that, after a courtship of about 20 years, the Walt Disney Company has won approval from the Chinese Government to build a Disneyland-style theme park in the burgeoning city.

The revision of vehicle use and registration rules within the most important Chinese cities helped crystallize Ducati's decision to open the retail flagship in Shanghai, and the milestone was marked by the appearance of the company's president Gabriele Del Torchio.

"In terms of potential development, the Asian Pacific Region today represents the most dynamic and interesting area worldwide," declared Del Torchio during the store opening ceremony. "Ducati, whose dynamic mission has always been performance excellence, had to be present with a solid structure in this part of the world.

"Last year we incorporated the regional offices in Shanghai and today we are happy and proud to announce our official presence in the Chinese market. Through our distribution network, we take on the prestigious role of "made in Italy" ambassadors with our motorcycles, renown all over the world for their sophisticated performance, technological innovation and winning tradition.

"Given the speed of Chinese economic development and growing interest towards "made in Italy", we are convinced this is a tremendous opportunity for Ducati.  We are proud to be here in China and, with this opening, mark the start a long and constructive road ahead."

Ducati is now present in 80 markets around the world.

Meanwhile, Disneyland is expected to open in five or six years. If you can't wait that long for some real excitement, then visit Ferrari World in the interim.