KTM has been well accepted in the Indian market and the DUKE has painted the nation Orange. KTM launched the Duke 200 followed by Duke 390 in the Indian market. The Austrian sports motorcycle maker now plans to manufacture and launch Husqvarna bikes in India in the next two years.
KTM will use Bajaj Auto’s Chakan plant to roll out the bikes. The same plant also manufactures the Pulsar Series, KTM 125, 200 and 390. Together with Bajaj, KTM plans to launch a number of new models which includes many new models under the RC series and the Duke 690.
Bajaj owns a substantial stake in the Austrian bike maker KTM, which in-turn recently bought the Husqvarna brand from BMW Motorrad.
Brief history of Husqvarna Motorcycle Company
- First motorcycle was unveiled in 1903 – a ‘motorised bicycle’.
- Introduced the Moto-cross, A new form of motorcycle sport became popular in post-war Europe in 1953
- Launched the Silverpilen motorcycle purpose-built for off-road use, Meaning ‘silver arrow’ in native Swedish
- In 1987 Husqvarna motorcycle division was sold to Italian motorcycle manufacturer Cagiva and became a part of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A
- Husaberg’ was born in 1988, as the core team behind Husqvarna motorcycles did not want to be a part of Cagiva
- In 2007 BMW buys Husqvarna motorcycles to expand their off-road motorcycle range
- In 2013 Pierer Industries AG (Husaberg’s owner) bought Husqvarna Motorcycles back