VOL. 52 ISSUE 6 FEBRUARY 10, 2015 P71
response from non-bikers, since using one can
teach you a lot about how to ride anything.
How many examples do you plan to make
in 2015 of the E-SM street version of the Fre-
eride?
In total I would say maybe 200-300 units,
starting in May, because so far we don't have a
real feeling of what the demand is–we're breaking
new ground here.
If you're not going to get CFMoto to build
this in China, what other kind of new project
will KTM develop with them? You mentioned
a 2015 joint venture?
First of all, we built up a very good trust level
with [CFMoto owner] Mr.Lai. They are a very seri-
ous Chinese company. But like all Chinese manu-
facturers they have a big problem coming up in
2017, when they have very tough engine homolo-
gation issues being imposed in China, mainly
noise and emissions requirements. We arranged
that they will get everything they need from us in
terms of technology to meet those requirements,
but on the other hand let's do a 50/50 joint
venture on KTM products made in China for sale
worldwide. They have a very fine new entry level
model using their own engine called the 150NK,
which was created for them by Kiska Design, and
we're going to supply them with KTM engines to
produce maybe a 200cc or even bigger version
of this, maybe a 250.
That would be a good foreign export model us-
ing a KTM engine supplied from India, so it would
be a CF-KTM 200, 250, whatever. In a lot of
emerging markets you need a well-priced aggres-
sive entry-level model, and even with a KTM 200
made in India I'm not able to compete in that sec-
tor. But CFMoto has such a good operation and a
high quality level that a CF-KTM 200 or whatever
would resolve that, and I'm happy to attach the
KTM name to something made by them. CN
Check next week's issue for part two with
Pierer…
KTM also has a joint venture with Chinese manufacturer CFMoto.
