2012 Ducati Motorcycle Sales NewsWhen the Audi Group acquired Ducati in April 2012 for reportedly over $1 billion, the motorcycle company was already in a growth stage. Worldwide sales and production numbers were up, with much of the positive results posted in North America (USA, Canada and Mexico).And after the backing of the Audi Group, things only got stronger. On Tuesday, during the “Audi Annual Press Conference” held in Ingolstadt, Germany, it was reported that Ducati’s worldwide revenues were up 16 percent over 2011, with a record 44,102 motorcycles sold to customers.During the conference, North America was now confirmed as Ducati’s primary focus impressive growth. In 2012, Ducati North America sold a record 10,883 motorcycles. Growth in the region was also quick; overall sales increased in North America by 21 percent over 2011. To arrive at this number, each North American region increased marginally – USA by 21 percent, Canada by 25, and Mexico by 7.Audi reports that the overall results of Ducati “further underline the security of the company which is, also thanks to the Audi Group acquisition, better structured and organized than ever before and ready to confidently face future challenges.”Gabriel Del Torchio (CEO of Ducati Motor Holding) says: “Ducati closed 2012 with revenues of 606 million euro, an increase of 16% compared with 2011 and a total of 44,102 motorcycles delivered to customer.“Our growth rate has been especially impressive in the US, currently our primary-focus market, with sales up by 21% compared to 2011, confirming an absolutely positive trend for this country, where Ducati sales have increased consistently for the past 30 months.“We are also achieving major results and important goals throughout the Far East, thanks to a marketing policy which specifically targets new and emerging markets and has returned growth in terms market share and profits.“With new stakeholders in the company, Ducati has never been so solid, and these positive figures confirm the value and commitment of all the company staff and of our brand, increasingly popular, appreciated and renowned all over the world.”Much of Ducati’s success is due to its wide-range of offerings in 2012, including its all-new 1199 Panigale superbike, the middleweight Streetfighter 848 naked, the Diavel cruiser, the Multistrada tourer, and the flagship Monster, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2013.Ducati further added to its lineup for 2013, offering a redesigned Hypermotard family that features an all-new 821cc Testastretta 11-degree engine and the Hyperstrada, a touring version of the Hypermotard. Ducati also released a Multistrada S Granturismo, the Diavel Strada, which adds some touring capabilities to the cruiser, and the 1199 Panigale R.Gabriel Del Torchio says: “The 2013 product range, including the new Multistrada, Hypermotard, Hyperstrada and 1199 Panigale R models, is the expression of technological excellence and the emotional impact of our products, ever-important in the current, highly competitive economic climate, perfectly complements our unmistakable, all-Italian style. Ducati is today, and will continue to be, a product-oriented company, with development and innovation as the milestones of our growth strategy.”To read a report on Ducati North America’s 2012 success and future plans, click here.
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly Podcast—Motos and Friends.
My name is Arthur Coldwells.
This week’s Podcast is brought to you by Yamaha motorcycles. Discover how the YZF-R7 provides the perfect balance of rider comfort and true supersport performance by checking it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or see it for yourself at your local dealer.
This week’s episode features Senior Editor Nic de Sena’s impressions of the beautiful new Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST that is loosely based around the original FXRT Sport Glide from the 1980s. Hailing from The Golden State, these cult-status performance machines became known as West Coast style, with sportier suspension, increased horsepower, and niceties including creature comforts such as a tidy fairing and sporty luggage.
In past episodes you might have heard us mention my best friend, Daniel Schoenewald, and in the second segment I chat with him about some of the really special machines in his 170 or so—and growing—motorcycle collection. He’s always said to me that he doesn’t consider himself the owner, merely the curator of the motorcycles for the next generation.
Yet Daniel is not just a collector, but I can attest a really skilled rider. His bikes are not trailer queens, they’re ridden, and they’re ridden pretty hard. Actually, we have had many, many memorable rides on pretty much all of the machines in the collection at one time or another.
From all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!