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Offline twosmoke595

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Well that sucks
« on: April 30, 2013, 04:17:51 AM »
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/is-husqvarna-dying-58696.html

Bad news from Husqvarna, as GPOne and A&R report: the Husqvarna operations in Varese, Italy have been brought to a halt, after major problems have been discovered.

Husqvarna has recently changed hands from BMW to Pierer Industries AG, the company owned by KTM CEO Stephan Pierer. Pierer Industries has announced that the factory will be closed as of April 22nd, but gave no info on whether and when will things be running once more. All 211 workers employed by Husqvarna have been laid off, and only some 30 people in the marketing and sales departments have been kept in their positions.

A very big problem is represented by the +11k bikes which are currently in stock and have rather small prospects for reaching the customers' garages any time soon. To this huge number of bikes, we should add the already 3-4,000 units already manufactured this year.

Pierer Industries publicly stated that Husqvarna is still selling and offering service for the whole range of bikes, including the three recent ones: Terra, Strada 650 and Nuda 900 ABS. It seems like dark times are about to come if the actual owners of the brand can't find viable solutions.

After 5 weeks of assessing the real situation at Husqvarna, Pierer Industries officials claim things are far worse than BMW described, but no official action (other than closing down the plant for now) was mentioned.

We can only wait and hope things will be better, though without customers spending money and actually buying large quantities of the stocked bikes, good times are really far.

Some speculate that KTM CEO just wanted Husqvarna out of the way, and using whatever technologies are fit for further development in KTM bikes then letting the brand die was the initial plan, altogether.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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Offline SwapperMX

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Well that sucks
« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2013, 04:47:54 AM »
Some speculate that KTM CEO just wanted Husqvarna out of the way, and using whatever technologies are fit for further development in KTM bikes then letting the brand die was the initial plan, altogether.

That sentence I find very interesting. Speculation, but still, it will be interesting on how it plays out. Would have very big ramifications world wide if Husky are over and out. I have a good mate who owns a husky dealership, and has done well with the brand over here in the last few years. To suddenly have not that brand exist any longer would be quite a shock. The initial press release stated that they wanted the brand to get back to its racing roots. To then suddenly ditch it completely, well that would be a tragedy.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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Offline vetman

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Well that sucks
« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2013, 10:39:10 AM »
cloaks and daggers my freind
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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Offline evo550

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Well that sucks
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2013, 12:09:32 PM »
Your all bloody so cynical.
Husqvarna has been passed around from pillar to post since the late '80's, from Cagiva to Ducati to BMW.
All predominately road bike manufacturers trying to get a slice of the dirt bike market.....that never worked.
Now that it's back in the hands of a dirt bike manufacturer can mean only good things.
KTM didn't slice up and sell off Husaberg when it took over, why would they do it to Husky?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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Offline VintageBlueSmoke

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Well that sucks
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2013, 12:23:33 PM »
I tend to agree with evo550.  KTM CEO Stephan Pierer probably was given a load of shit in the sales pitch by BMW and even after due dillegence by the corporate lawyers, something was discovered. They will sort it out, fix it, and get it going again. There is too much money at stake not to.

Husqvarna is not competition against KTM. They wouldn't buy it to shut them down and take them out of the market...that would only create dozens of start ups with the hopes of the same thing happening. Having viable competition in the market - especially one you can control, makes your product better and makes you a stronger company.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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08 Speed Bird Quad 110, 08 KTM 144, 04 Suzuki LT-Z400, 03 Gas Gas EC, 300,97 Honda CR144, 96 Husky Boy 50, 88 Husky 400WR, 86 Honda CR125R, 80 Can-Am MX6 400, 75 Husky 360CR, 75 Husky 175CC, 73 Penton Jackpiner 175, 72 Husky 250CR, 72 Husky 125, 72 Rickman-Zundapp 125, (2) 71 Bultaco Pursang Mk

Offline eprovenzano

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Well that sucks
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2013, 01:16:22 PM »
I tend to agree..  while I feel for the people out of work, it takes time to fix the issues and right the ship. 

I place the blame on the financial guru's...  (yes I'm one of them)  They should have found these issues during their due diligence.  I'm a financial consultant, and its my job to uncover the hidden issues.  Yes it can be difficult, but it can be done.  It also may have been a MFG issue...  This too should have been uncovered during the due diligence.  If KTM feels they were "taken", they have no one to blame but themselves.

KTM has been through tough times, and came out on top, so I feel they have the business plan in place to right the ship, its just going to take a little time.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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Offline evo550

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Well that sucks
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2013, 02:00:11 PM »
Quote from: VintageBlueSmoke on April 30, 2013, 07:23:33 PM

Husqvarna is not competition against KTM. They wouldn't buy it to shut them down and take them out of the market...that would only create dozens of start ups with the hopes of the same thing happening. Having viable competition in the market - especially one you can control, makes your product better and makes you a stronger company.

Bingo!!! By closing down Husky, KTM isn't assured of a single extra sale from all the bikeless Husky riders. By keeping Husky going, KTM is assured of 100% of the sales..
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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Offline SachsGS

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Well that sucks
« Reply #7 on: April 30, 2013, 04:08:08 PM »
These are difficult times for offroad motorcycle manufacturers and I hope Husky survives.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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Offline ktm150rippa

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Well that sucks
« Reply #8 on: April 30, 2013, 05:20:28 PM »
I thought this is old news? Last I heard they wanted to move the factory to India and not deal with the union in Italy? So to me it was only a matter of time before they closed it.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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Offline VintageBlueSmoke

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Well that sucks
« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2013, 09:08:26 AM »
I think they should closed the factory...and move it back to HUSQVARNA!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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08 Speed Bird Quad 110, 08 KTM 144, 04 Suzuki LT-Z400, 03 Gas Gas EC, 300,97 Honda CR144, 96 Husky Boy 50, 88 Husky 400WR, 86 Honda CR125R, 80 Can-Am MX6 400, 75 Husky 360CR, 75 Husky 175CC, 73 Penton Jackpiner 175, 72 Husky 250CR, 72 Husky 125, 72 Rickman-Zundapp 125, (2) 71 Bultaco Pursang Mk

Offline beaner

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Well that sucks
« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2013, 02:39:13 PM »
I think you should have posted this in the original thread, instead of making a new one.

The mods can merge the two.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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Ontario, Canada

Offline Coop

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Well that sucks
« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2013, 02:47:25 PM »
Quote from: beaner on May 01, 2013, 09:39:13 PM
I think you should have posted this in the original thread, instead of making a new one.

The mods can merge the two.

He is a moderator, I think if he wants to merge them he can take care of that  :D .

I have always been a Husky fan. I've said it before but one of my riding buddies has been riding them since the 80's. He recently bought a WR400 just like the one he rode in BlackWater, said it's going in his entry way of his house as art LOL. He'll be seriously bummed if the brand goes away all together.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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- Mike - Don't take life so seriously, nobody gets out alive.

Offline beaner

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Well that sucks
« Reply #12 on: May 01, 2013, 03:46:35 PM »
Quote
He is a moderator
Ooops.  :-[
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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Offline twosmoke595

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Well that sucks
« Reply #13 on: May 01, 2013, 05:42:14 PM »
Quote from: beaner on May 01, 2013, 09:39:13 PM
I think you should have posted this in the original thread, instead of making a new one.

The mods can merge the two.

original thread? if i knew about it i would  :-*
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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Offline beaner

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Well that sucks
« Reply #14 on: May 01, 2013, 06:24:36 PM »
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 04:00:00 PM by ' »
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