KTM PRESIDENT/CEO STEFAN PIERER: PART 1
P82
Interview
Pierer says the
pandemic has
delayed its plans
to go twins racing
in AFT. Looks like
that won't happen
for another year.
be closed, and if you miss just one part in a
motorcycle, you don't have a complete finished
product to ship. But in India they also closed
the motorcycle shops, and there's also an extra
complication, because at the same time as all
this is going on, they're introducing extremely
strict emission rules by going in one fell swoop
from BS4 to BS6. Essentially, Mr. Modi is trying
to drive everyone to using electric vehicles.
But one of your
biggest sales hits this
year is the new 390
Adventure, which, of
course, is made in
India. Has there been
a problem with supply
of that?
Fortunately, co-
rona only shot up after
the first batch of the
model was made and
shipped, so we still
had something to meet
initial demand with.
But, fortunately, Bajaj
is restarting with export
model production as its
primary focus, so KTM
and Husqvarna have priority, and we expect to
be able to meet the huge demand we have for
this model with only a short delay in supplies.
It's been very gratifying to see how well it's
been received, as a proper small-capacity dual
purpose model, not something just pretending
to be that.
KTM has gained market share in the
USA steadily, from 2.6% in 2009 to 8.6%
in 2019, but this has been achieved with a
relatively narrow product range compared
to the Japanese. But for this year, you've
added the 390 Adventure, and the elec-
tric minis. Are there any other entry-level
categories that you'll be introducing new
models for with KTM and Husqvarna?
"For us,
fortunately, the
powered two-
wheeler industry
is actually
flourishing
to a certain
extent after
corona[virus].
In all countries
which have
reopened since
the lockdown,
there's a
very positive
demand for our
products."
