ROAD NEWS
marketing, IT, personnel management, finance,
purchasing and logistics areas will, therefore,
still be working remotely.
The production has been reorganised, going
from an eight-hour shift to two seven-hour
shifts to allow the minimum number of people
to be inside the plant at the same time and thus
minimize possible contact. The canteen will be
active but with one seat for every four chairs.
Inside the factory, Ducati says there will be a
series of new rules to ensure workers remain safe.
For example, there is an absolute requirement to
use masks, regardless of distancing.
Many of the measures inserted are the result
of a careful analysis of the protocols used in the
Chinese plants of the VW Group – with Ducati
being a small part of the giant VW Group – in
particular the FAW-VW of Chanchung, where
production was suspended only for one week but
where strict protection, distancing and sanitising
measures are still in force.
“We are ready to go, we have worked hard over
the past few weeks to minimize any risk,” said
Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO.
Despite the reopening of the production lines,
Ducati has confirmed that visits to the Ducati
Museum, Factory and Fisica in Moto remain
suspended until further notice, in addition to entry
into the factory being prohibited for suppliers,
dealers, external contracted companies, and
external staff in general, unless proven and
unavoidably required for the continuity of
production activities, product development and
general services.
MANUFACTURERS EXTEND WARRANTIES
W
ith the majority of our bikes still locked
up awaiting a return to the roads, a select
group of manufacturers has decided to
do some good for their customers in the form of
extending warranties due to the Covid-19 crisis.
While not all manufacturers are extending
warranties on their motorcycles and not all NZ
distributors were able to be reached prior to
this edition of the mag, Kiwi Rider has been
made aware of a number who are extending the
goodwill at these uncertain times.
If you’re concerned about your new bike’s
warranty, talk to your local dealership to find out
your brand’s policy in these challenging times.
KAWASAKI
Kawasaki NZ will be extending manufacturers
warranties by 12-weeks as part of a goodwill
warranty extension for road registerable models
only. All road-registrable motorcycles with a
current manufacturer warranty are eligible to a
12-week goodwill warranty extension.
16 KIWI RIDER
KTM
KTM has announced the Austrian brand will be
extending warranties by three-months.
“As a mark of support during these precarious
times, all KTM motorcycles with a manufacturer
warranty ending between March 1, 2020 and April
30, 2020 are eligible to a three-month goodwill
warranty extension.”
MV AGUSTA
The Italian manufacturer has also announced it
will be providing three months bonus warranty
extension.
“Because of the Coronavirus crisis and the
resulting lockdown enforced in almost every
country, owners around the world have been
prevented from actually using their bikes. A
necessary halt to stop the spreading of the
virus, but also a period of time during which
warranty coverage has had very little use. An idle
time MV Agusta has decided to give back to its
customers.”