KIWI RIDER 06 2019 VOL.2 | Page 22

KTM AUSTRALIA AND NZ SOLD he independent distributor of KTM motorcycles in Australia and New Zealand (KTM ANZ) has announced it has sold its remaining shares in the importation business to KTM AG. After 25 years as the KTM importer for the Antipodes, Automotive Holdings Group (AHG) has sold the remaining 74% share of its motorcycle importation business to the brand’s parent company KTM. AHG has been the exclusive importer and distributor of the KTM brand for the Australian and New Zealand market since 1994, with the Husqvarna Motorcycles and WP Suspension brands joining the stable in recent years. The move to full ownership will see KTM Group Australia and KTM Group New Zealand become full subsidiaries of the Austrian company. Now selling more than 11,000 KTM and Husqvarna Motorcycle units combined, the Australian and New Zealand business has become the third largest market in the world for KTM and will now become the third largest subsidiary for the company. “What a journey it has been since our first AHG Dealer Conference in 1994 and there have been so many significant milestones along the way,” said KTM Group Australia and New Zealand General Manager, Jeff Leisk. “I am extremely proud to have seen the KTM and Husqvarna Motorcycle brands go from strength to strength in both the Australian and New Zealand markets. We have built strong relationships with our dealers and our customers and this has been the key to our success. Becoming a factory owned subsidiary will increase the level of support that we can offer our dealer network, our staff and our customers, so I am excited about the next chapter,” he said. Hubert Trunkenpolz, KTM’s Chief Marketing Officer, said, “We are absolutely delighted with the outcome and our full ownership of KTM Group Australia and KTM Group New Zealand. This transaction once again reinforces our commitment to the Australian and New Zealand markets. This is a very positive development for the KTM dealer network and the KTM customer in both countries.” The changeover in ownership will take effect from July 1 2019, with KTM saying there will be no effect upon the current dealer network or current staff.