- Ducati could be put up for sale as part of Volkswagen’s restructuring.
- The motorcycle brand could be worth around $1.45 billion.
- Audi is still considering producing some crossovers in the United States.
Volkswagen is aiming to slash 50,000 jobs and reduce its model lineup by 50% as part of a massive restructuring. While those aspects are widely known, the company is also putting its various businesses and shareholdings under the microscope.
Last week, the automaker said around a third of their “non-strategic activities” will be “divested or realigned.” This comes as Volkswagen wants to focus on firms that deliver a “clear strategic and financial contribution to the core business.”
More: VW Group Confirms Plans To Kill Half Its Lineup And Slash 50,000 Jobs
According to Bloomberg, this could result in Ducati being sold. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner recently confirmed that possibility as he told the publication they’ll have to talk about Ducati as part of the “evaluation process.” However, he noted “nothing has been decided.”
Ducati dates back to 1926 and became the eleventh brand in the Volkswagen Group portfolio on July 19, 2012. Last year, the brand delivered 50,895 motorcycles globally for a 7% decline. The Multistrada was the best-seller as consumers snapped up 13,873 units. It was followed by the Panigale (10,606) and Scrambler (5,814) lineups.
Bloomberg estimates the motorcycle maker could be worth around €1.25 ($1.45 / £1.07) billion. That’s a sizable amount considering the company only posted an operating profit of €52 ($60.39 / £44.68) million last year. This was a 42.8% drop and the firm blamed unfavorable exchange rates as well as tariffs applied by the Trump administration.
Audi Still Eyeing US Production
In other news, Döllner confirmed the company is still considering moving some Audi production stateside. This could occur at either Scout’s new plant in Blythewood, South Carolina or Volkswagen’s factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He said the company has to think about producing “at least some” SUVs in America. While no decision has been made, Audi doesn’t produce any vehicles in the United States and this puts them in a tough spot due to tariffs. This stands in stark contrast to BMW and Mercedes, which have massive SUV plants outside Spartanburg, South Carolina and Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
