News sources on the internet suggest that Audi’s acquisition of Ducati will take place next week. Ducati’s current main shareholder, Investindustrial – an Italian buyout firm – is said to be talking exclusively with Audi, while a positive announcement should be made next week.
The main reason for this acquisition is for Audi to gain access to the engineering and manufacturing of small-capacity engines. Furthermore, it will give the bigger Volkswagen Group the chance to compete against BMW, not only in terms of passenger cars, but now with motorcycles as well.
Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piëch has apparently made it quite clear in the past that he admires Ducati for its design and its small-capacity engines. Also, as has been proven in the past, when Piëch has made a decision, he sticks to it… Rewind 14 years, and think about the time when Audi bought Lamborghini, seems like history is repeating itself, now only on two wheels.