In a sign of confidence that the carmaker expects to be able to carry the costs of its transformation, Audi’s chief executive Rupert Stadler said there is therefore no economic need to sell Ducati.
The original plan was to sell Ducati to reduce costs by 10 billion euros ($11.8 billion), cut red tape and deepen ties with fellow Volkswagen-owned (VOWG) brand Porsche.
The plan had already stalled in the summer when VW’s powerful labor unions, backed by the controlling Porsche-Piech families, opposed the logic and need for asset sales given the group’s financial resilience.
A correction if I may . According to automotive industry insiders the reason VW-Auid has ‘ abandoned ‘ selling off Ducati is not because VW-Audi has had a sudden boost of confidence in Ducati but rather because there have been zero viable offers on the table : forcing VW-Audi to either continue on with Ducati despite losing money or bankrupting the company and shuttering its doors .
And known full well what the general public reaction would be if VW-Audi did shutter Ducati’s doors they’ve chosen the wise course of action . Keeping Ducati open and absorbing the losses as they come
Ducati has been profitable and increasing sales annually for years. It didn’t make sense for VW to sell them off.
Nice bikes if you can afford them.