The rumours continue

I have heard today, from someone who was talking to someone who knows in Volkeswagen, that we are all going to be riding Audis in future. They seemed totally certain that Volkeswagen / Audi will buying Ducati very shortly, in fact he said they talked as if it was a done deal. My only real pedigree for this information is that I was told this at Goodwood where they do have a very strong motorsports history. If I am wrong you can all laugh at me, if I am right, you heard it here first.

But aren't Seat and Skoda part of the same mob too? As many will tell you I know zippety squat about 4 wheel devices, but if I'm right does that mean we'll be riding Skodas?

Sounded like a done deal in the write up in MCN today too.

Anth

Your not wrong Ken

Originally Posted by XxAnthxX

Your not wrong Ken

Woo-hoo! Wait until Chris sees this. He'll have something to say about my 4-wheel expertise

I spoke to two top people from the factory today who were suggesting something similar.....

Well if you want into the market but couldn't build a bike like BMW could just buy a company that can.

Originally Posted by keninsussex

But aren't Seat and Skoda part of the same mob too? As many will tell you I know zippety squat about 4 wheel devices, but if I'm right does that mean we'll be riding Skodas?

VAG - VW Audi Group also own Lamborghini, Bently, Bugatti, Skoda, and Seat ..... se we could all be riding 2 wheel Lamborghini.

To be honest, I think this could be a good thing. Look at the new crop of Lamborghini since Audi brought them.

I wasn't saying it was a bad thing, I think if you could keep the beautiful Italian styling and add some German know how you could have some of the best bikes ever built

Originally Posted by nogaromill999

I spoke to two top people from the factory today who were suggesting something similar.....

Mercedes by any chance ? I spoke to a tech guy Today in bologna and He reckons Merc ? (rumour mill in Panagale) Feeeerbimatic lol

audi have previously been involved with motorcycles

in their former guise as auto union they built a small two stroke that was a copy of a dkw

this was also copied and produced as a bsa bantam and a harley hummer

god help ducati with their out of teh box engineering if volkswagon get their hands on ducati

This will be a very good thing. Sorry but VW group does kind off support out of the box engineering. Veyron springs to mind. On top of that Skoda was dead when they got that and current RS range from them is well super fun to drive. Seat had some proper good cars there.
In case of Lamborghini I think they saved them. First two cars were to build up reputation in case of usability and show mark is note dead. Then they let the engineers go and look now, madness is back in them which one would never suspect Germens of allowing.

No Steve, not Mercedes...definitely Audi......there is already a pre contract agreement in place that gives them till the end of April to finalise details of the deal.....

The Audi rumours are plainly pukka but how is that to be reconciled with the Ducati-Merc/AMG partnership (the 2012 GP bikes are all stickered up with AMG)?

Ducati - Ducati to cooperate with AMG

Originally Posted by nogaromill999

No Steve, not Mercedes...definitely Audi......there is already a pre contract agreement in place that gives them till the end of April to finalise details of the deal.....

That pretty much as MCN published too

Audi to offer £630m for Ducati

There has been a fair bit of speculation recently over Volkswagen’s Audi brand in talks to buy Ducati. Bike Sport News report today that Audi are set to offer £630m to acquire Ducati.

According to the Italian newspaper Corriere di Bologna, Audi have submitted an offer of €750m (£630m) to buy Ducati and bring it into the Volkswagen fold as the firm tries to sell its stake in Suzuki.

The German car giant has put the bid to Investindustrial, the private equity firm which controls about three-quarters of the legendary bike manufacturer since a takeover in 2008 and is looking to double its money - as is a private equity firm's raison d'etre.

The Bologna firm sells 40,000 bikes a year and made £71m in 2010 which puts a value on the company in excess of £500m.

The Financial Times also last week published that Audi are seeking to extend their automotive empire and fulfil its chairman’s ambition. Ducati sells about 40,000 bikes a year and controls around 9% of the sports market.


Article Link: The Ducati Forum – Audi to offer £630m for Ducati

Just a little history...

The VAG group does include Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Skoda...

Now - Skoda holds the record for the longest continuous production of any car manufacturer in history, and they were originally a company called Laurent & Clemment who were motorcycle manufacturers !

So Keninsussex might be right :-)

Originally Posted by JR45

Just a little history...

The VAG group does include Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Skoda...

Now - Skoda holds the record for the longest continuous production of any car manufacturer in history, and they were originally a company called Laurent & Clemment who were motorcycle manufacturers !

So Keninsussex might be right :-)

Well there you go, I can now say I have learned something new today

Ducaudi ? Vagati?
If they do purchase hope they leave well alone.

Announcement by the 15th.

Audi-Ducati deal imminent - Motorcycle news: Industry - Visordown

Originally Posted by Katie

I wasn't saying it was a bad thing, I think if you could keep the beautiful Italian styling and add some German know how you could have some of the best bikes ever built

I thought we had the best bikes ever, anyway! 😉

Originally Posted by Katie

I wasn't saying it was a bad thing, I think if you could keep the beautiful Italian styling and add some German know how you could have some of the best bikes ever built

I thought we had the best bikes ever, anyway! 😉

If the deal comes off I wonder if the future will see a budget range of desmo L-twins with a different brand badge? c.f. Skoda/Seat from the VAG group???
Pure conjecture, but would VAG seek to maximise profit & hike the Ducati brand prices?
Perhaps they have the money to extend the Ducati range of bikes to fill niches they don't currently occupy?

Would YOU ride a bike that said VAG on the side of it, i can hear the laughter now.

Originally Posted by crazy harry

Would YOU ride a bike that said VAG on the side of it, i can hear the laughter now.

GAV backwards? No appeal to me, but someone might like it....