Volkswagon buys into Suzuki
After repeatedly expressing a burning desire to purchase a bike company-- preferably a "small, valuable motorcycle manufacturer," VW head Ferdinand Piech has now gone for the gold, announcing a $2.5 billion, one fifth stake in Suzuki.
Piech is a self-professed bike junky, once stating that "I myself drive a Ducati. 180 horses and more power per kilogram weight than a 1,001-hp Bugatti." But it seems the Suzuki transaction would hit two birds with one stone: it would help Piech edge Volkswagen towards the goal of becoming the world's number one carmaker-- especially with the aided penetration of crucial emerging markets like India-- while satisfying his craving to control a motorcycle manufacturer.
What will happen to the Suzuki motorcycle lineup, which includes icons like the Hayabusa and the GSX-R lineup? Presumably not much-- at least initially-- since motorcycles constitute only 16.9% of Suzuki's net sales. But the repercussions of the German/Japanese union is intriguing, to say the least... thoughts?
Piech is a self-professed bike junky, once stating that "I myself drive a Ducati. 180 horses and more power per kilogram weight than a 1,001-hp Bugatti." But it seems the Suzuki transaction would hit two birds with one stone: it would help Piech edge Volkswagen towards the goal of becoming the world's number one carmaker-- especially with the aided penetration of crucial emerging markets like India-- while satisfying his craving to control a motorcycle manufacturer.
What will happen to the Suzuki motorcycle lineup, which includes icons like the Hayabusa and the GSX-R lineup? Presumably not much-- at least initially-- since motorcycles constitute only 16.9% of Suzuki's net sales. But the repercussions of the German/Japanese union is intriguing, to say the least... thoughts?
