Straightline - VW and Ducati?

VW and Ducati?

There are stories up on the Net that, back in 1985, VW's Chairman Ferdinand Peich had wanted to buy Italian motorcycle maker Ducati. This was back when Ducati was in financial trouble, and could have been bought for a song.

...And apparently VW is still interested in acquiring Ducati according to a recent Bloomberg.com news item.

"I would still like a small, valuable motorcycle manufacturer," says Peich, who, at the age of 71, owns and rides a Ducati.

So, good idea or bad idea? Do you think that knowledge gained by having a bike partner could filter down to their automotive division, or vice-versa? Consider that Honda and BMW have motorcycle divisions, both of which have benefited by having that two-wheeled association.

Posted by Bob Apr 18, 2008 6:38 am

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Categories: BMW | Honda | Volkswagen

Comments

bepperb - Apr 18, 2008 8:26 am (#1 Total: 4)

Honda certainly benifits from it, and I guess all the other small engines they build (they are the largest maker of IC engines in the world) and I'm sure BMW is, too. Still, I don't see the point to this other than having a halo project for your engineering department, which they already have regularly with things like the W12 engine.

Why can't they concentrate on making quality in their current product portfolio? They are quickly becoming the GM of Europe, and Honda and Toyota will do to them what they've done here in short order if things don't turn around.

estreka - Apr 18, 2008 10:21 am (#2 Total: 4)

subarctic north - Great Falls, MT

I'm not sure Ducati could provide VW the expertise they need. I don't think of VW as having (or needing) screaming high-rev engines. This is especially true when one considers the fact that VW is trying to go upscale.

On the other hand, with the insane mileage/emissions crisis going on in Europe, having a bike company could really help your overall avg mpg.

karjunkie - Apr 18, 2008 10:34 am (#3 Total: 4)

Ducatis are exotic expensive machines. I doubt that any analogies can be made to Honda as to synergies. Honda started as a motorcycle company and then entered the car market. Similarly, BMW's motorcycle division is a vestige of the past. Had they bought it when it was about to collapse it might have made sense. I fail to see any relavence to VW or accretive benefit now that it would cost them the proverbial arm and a leg.

ateixeira - Apr 18, 2008 10:59 am (#4 Total: 4)

Recife, PE, Brazil

Bad idea.

Piech increased costs at VW so badly that now Porsche owns part of them. It should be the other way around!

I can't see what he could add to an already expensive/premium motorcycle lineup.

Ducati would end up with a higher cost structure.

VW would end up with ... nothing? I can't see what they could get from Ducati that would be low-cost enough for their smaller cars.