27. 07. 10. - 14:00

KTM-Bajaj motorbikes on sale next year

KTM Power Sports AG boss Stefan Pierer said today (Tues) production of a new range of motorbikes will start shortly.

Pierer explained his firm will cooperate with Indian motorsport giant Bajaj Auto in manufacturing the bikes set to cost 3,700 Euros apiece. He said he hoped to sell 5,000 to 6,000 motorcycles in the first year across the world, revealing that he saw a potential of selling up to 80,000 annually long-term.

The company chief said the bikes will go on sale around Easter next year.

The firm, which is headquartered in Mattighofen, Upper Austria, is currently en route to recovery after suffering dramatic losses over the past two years as order value was dampened by the global crisis.

Pierer said last week KTM’s earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit) in the third quarter of the current 2009/2010 business year reached 12.4 million Euros following losses of 56.7 million Euros in the same quarter of the previous business year.

He announced: "I’m optimistic about being in the black at the end of the business year. We managed to adapt capacities and lowered costs in production as well."

KTM is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange (WBAG). The company sacked 450 employees in the 2008/2009 business year.