Ducati Sale: Volkswagen Board Is Divided On The Idea To Sell The Brand

After shopping around for potential buyers to sell off the Ducati brand, Volkswagen’s board is now divided on the idea.

It was the Dieselgate emissions scandal which prompted Volkswagen to seriously consider selling off the Ducati motorcycle brand. Reuters had reported about it when the VW Group drew up plans to find a suitable buyer for Ducati and the sale would have fetched the German auto giant some cash to stay afloat during these troubling times.

However, now Reuters have posted an update on the topic and the latest report suggests that all members of the VW supervisory board aren’t on the same page when it comes to the plan of place Ducati on the rack.

Renk along with MAN Diesel & Turbo where the other two brands that VW was planning to unload in addition to Ducati. But going by the latest update, the 20-member board which comprises of labor leaders as well, haven’t reached a consensus yet.

(Photo by Jacopo Raule/Getty Images for Diesel) /

A Volkswagen works council spokesperson told Reuters,

"The employee representatives on Volkswagen’s supervisory board will neither approve a sale of Ducati, nor one of Renk or MAN Diesel & Turbo."

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Of late, VW has been implementing extensive cost-cutting measures along with a major revamp of their business plan for the following years. And these efforts have taken some heat off their back, thereby providing them with more funds to deal with the elephant in the room – the Dieselgate scandal.

The 19 percent increase in half-yearly operating profit has now instilled the employees with a greater confidence that VW will survive the storm without having to dispose off valuable brands like Ducati. The labor leaders don’t want the sale to go ahead unless a strong financial reason is there to substantiate the same.

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Hopefully, the air will clear up in the coming weeks. Until then, all interested parties will have to hold on to their checkbooks, without the urge to sign and secure ownership of the revered Italian motorcycle maker.

Source: Reuters

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