HISTORIA de KTM: No es la primera vez

In 1992, KTM declared bankruptcy, and its management was taken over by the banks… more than 30 years later, it seems history is repeating itself… KTM overcame its 1992 bankruptcy to become Europe's leading motorcycle manufacturer… do you think the same will happen? Since the end of 2024, KTM's situation has been complicated: a lot of debt, a lot of unsold motorcycles, and a lot of uncertainty… but many of us believe that, one way or another, the company will survive thanks to the strength of its brand, its technology, its involvement in motorsport, and the number of jobs that need to be protected. This is a good time to look back and see how KTM was born, how it became Europe's number 1 manufacturer and then went into crisis... But before we begin, the first thing to know is what KTM stands for, because pretty much everyone knows, for example, that BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke (Bavarian Motor Works), but KTM? Austria, 1937. Austrian engineer Johann Trunkenpolz established a small business in Mattighofen where he produced some metallurgical components while selling Opel cars and DKW motorcycles. He called that business Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen, which could be translated as "Trunkenpolz Motor Vehicles in Mattighofen" ... but that name was never registered. KTM's managers saw that post-war Europe needed affordable vehicles, and therefore motorcycles. And so the R100 was born, first as a prototype and then in series production starting in 1954, when the brand's 20 employees were building three motorcycles a day... Konreif died in 1960, and two years later, Trunkenpolz... By then, the company was already producing sporty models, such as the 125cc Trophy and, something that seems unusual today, scooters, such as the Mecky and the Pony I and II. At that time, the brand already had 180 employees, but by 1971, it had grown to 400 employees and offered 40 different models. In 1956, the brand's factory rider, Egon Dornauer, participated in the famous, still popular International Six Days Enduro event. He participated and won. And to KTM's surprise, this victory generated enormous publicity and was the main reason KTM shifted its focus to off-roading. In the mid-to-late 1980s, sales of mopeds and scooters plummeted. The founder's son died in 1988, and in 1991, banks took control of the company, and, as is often the case in these cases, they "broke up" and sold it. Stefan Pierer entered the scene in 1992 and revolutionized the company. Just two years after his arrival, the Duke was put up for sale, marking the brand's commitment to asphalt. Many now criticize Pierer... but with him came the expansion of the brand. Pierer decided, through an agreement with Audi, to manufacture super sports cars like the KMT X-Bow. He reached agreements with ATV-Polaris to supply engines and with Kiska Design to design its products, including its car. He also gained control of the Husaberg, Gas Gas, and finally MV Agusta brands. Bajaj acquired 14.7 percent of the brand in 2007, a percentage that rose to no less than 47 percent in 2017, as it were, four days ago. Nothing foreshadowed what was going to happen, as we all understood that KTM's recent history with Pierer at the helm was a run of success, a little crazy, perhaps, with a somewhat dictatorial leadership, perhaps, but successful. And what happened? Well, by the end of 2024, 265,000 unsold motorcycles appeared. The German newspaper "Standard" estimated this figure to represent the number of unsold motorcycles in KTM dealerships around the world... the sales for an entire year. That was a huge, huge problem... but not the only one. For the time being, Pierer is no longer at the helm. Investors want someone with a keen eye, a lot of prudence, and someone who inspires a lot of confidence… and that's what Gottfried Neumeister, a name little known to the general public but with enormous prestige, is offering. Gottfried's career began at Siemens AG Austria; in 2003, he founded "flyniki" with Niki Lauda, ​​which they sold to Air Berlin in 2012, earning a lot of money from the transaction. He became CEO of DO & CO, a large Austrian catering company, between 2021 and 2023, and joined KTM AG in 2024. I thought it would be interesting for you to know the history of KTM, because on February 25, 2025, important decisions were made for KTM… this video was recorded on the 26th. But there's a third piece of news, good or bad, depending on how you look at it. One of the bankruptcy administrators who will decide the company's future is Peter Vogl, who told Business Live: "At Tuesday's balance sheet meeting, BMW Motorrad expressed interest in participating as an investor and continuing the KTM brand, but no longer in Austria." If this were to happen by the end of this year, all 4,500 KTM employees in Austria would officially be out of the company.