If we asked you which Germanic company was the largest motorcycle brand by volume, you would likely guess BMW Motorrad…and you would be wrong. Snap! Displacing the venerable brand from Bavaria, which set its own sales record, KTM’s 2012 sales year of 107,142 units has handed the Austrian brand the distinction of being the best-selling Germanic brand worldwide (by a margin of less than 1,000 machines).
Seeing 32% growth in its worldwide market, thanks in part to a 15% increase in the United States, as well as strong sales in India, KTM is rapidly transforming itself from a boutique brand and into a juggernaut in the motorcycle industry. While in the US, KTM’s off-road segment remains king, and is lead by the KTM 350 SX-F & KTM 500 EXC, worldwide it is KTM’s on-road market that is making headway for the Austrians.
KTM’s growth doesn’t just come from its partnership with Bajaj and sales in India, as the Austrians saw a 9% kick in sales in Europe, which bucks the rest of the industry’s 12% tailspin in that market. Furthermore, that increase in sales was good for a 7.5% market share increase — a huge piece of pie-taking for a single year.
Helping make that boost have been the KTM 125 Duke & KTM 200 Duke machines, which will soon be joined by the KTM 390 Duke. Selling 8,000 KTM 200 Dukes in India alone, it is no secret that KTM’s small-displacement machines padding the company’s figures handsomely. As for profit,
With all the star-power coming from KTM’s on-road offering, the question still remains though: when will KTM USA start taking the American street-bike market more seriously? Only time will tell.
Source: KTM & KTM USA
Comments