Cycle News

P32 IN THE WIND KTM, CFMOTO TO BUILD DUKES IN CHINA I n a surprise move that further extends KTM's increasing global reach, the Austrian manufacturer has inked a deal with China's privately-owned CFMoto to begin production of KTM models in China - but only for sale in the world's largest motorcycle market, as represented by the People's Republic. The bikes will not be reexported, insist KTM executives. This process will commence early in 2014 in the CFMoto factory in Hangzhou, some 100 miles southwest of Shanghai, and will initially entail CKD kits of the 200 Duke and 390 Duke models being shipped there from KTM's partner Bajaj Auto's plant in Pune, India (where they are manufactured) for local assembly. CFMoto will also import fully built-up larger capacity Austrianmade KTM models, from the 690 Duke single up to the forthcoming 1290 SuperDuke R rangetopper, for sale in China via a dedicated KTM dealer network that the Chinese manufacturer is in the process of establishing – outlets in Beijing and Shanghai have already been set up. Import tariffs are slightly unusual in China, where the lower the displacement of the engine, the higher the import duty in order to protect the local industry, which with the exception of CFMoto's own 650cc twin-cylinder models and the new Qianjiangmade Benelli BN600R four, sees 250cc as the capacity ceiling. This gives no advantage to selling more expensive prestige models on a CKD basis. It's understood the official announcement of the KTM-CFMoto link is likely to take place at the Chongqing Motorcycle Show, the annual showpiece of the Chinese motorcycle industry that opens on October 17. In addition to its alliance with KTM, CFMoto is also planning a major step forward in the quality and appeal to overseas customers of its own model range. The big news is that CFMoto's radical-looking Adventure Tourer has been created for the Chinese manufacturer by none KTM has inked a deal with CFMoto in China to begin production of KTMs there. other than Gerald Kiska, whose Kiska Design company has been responsible for producing every single KTM model since 1992. However, CFMoto's link with Kiska dates back from even before the deal was signed with KTM for the production of its bikes in China, and the first fruits of this agreement will be launched at the Milan EICMA. That's when CFMoto will debut the first of an all-new range of bikes with Kiska styling, powered by its own fuelinjected 150cc liquid-cooled overhead-cam six-speed singlecylinder motor. A comparable 250cc range is believed to be under development as well - as continued on page 34

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