Volkswagen Is Considering Selling Ducati
With costs rising from its diesel emissions-cheating scandal, VW needs to streamline its business as much as possible. Reuters reports that Italian motorcycle maker Ducati, which Audi purchased for €860 million ($935 million US) in 2012, might be the first brand VW sells off in the wake of the scandal. The automaker hasn't reached a final decision, but it's currently approaching potential buyers of the famed motorcycle maker, which Reuters reports could be valued at €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion US).
This isn't the first time we've heard rumors of VW selling Ducati. In December 2015, the early days of VW's diesel scandal, we reported that Ducati could be sold, along with Lamborghini, Bentley, and Bugatti. Rumors surrounding the sale of those car brands have cooled off, but as a non-essential part of the VW group, Ducati seems like a potential candidate for sale.
Reuters also notes that VW's decision to shop Ducati around might have something to do with the ouster of former VW Group chairman Ferdinand Piech last month. Supposedly, Piech was a key factor behind Audi's purchase of Ducati; with Piech out of the way, VW seemingly has less attachment to the motorcycle maker.
While Ducati has a critical hit the affordable Scrambler, it's unclear what value it brought to the VW Group. Back when the automaker was on top of the world, purchasing a brand like Ducati was a power move of sorts. Now, things have changed.
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