PERHAPS one reason for KTM’s planned de-listing from the stock exchange is that without external investors the firm won’t be forced to release annual reports that give away details of its future plans.
At the moment it still has to, and the latest one – released today – confirms that both the Husqvarna Svartpilen and Vitpilen concepts will be in production in the near future. As KTM’s subsidiary brand, Husqvarna is drawing heavily on its parent firm’s models, and has so far shown two Vitpilen concept street bikes – the Duke 390-based Vitpilen 401 (which has also been spied on test) and the Duke 690-derived Vitpilen 701 – and the scrambler-style Svartpilen 401. All three will reach showrooms, and a larger Svartpilen 701 is surely on the cards as well.
The first two production machines will be the two Vitpilen models, both due next year. KTM’s annual report says: “For 2017 the next step will be realized with the arrival of the first two Vitpilen production models.”
The use of the term “first two Vitpilen production models” also seems to suggest that there will eventually be more than two in the line-up.
It goes on to explain that the firm plans to make Husqvarna into Europe’s third-largest motorcycle manufacturer, behind KTM and BMW, and confirms production of the Svartpilen as it does so. The report says: “The upcoming segment-redefining Vitpilen and Svartpilen production models will set Husqvarna Motorcycles on a blazing trajectory to become Europe’s third-largest motorcycle producer – with the aim of doing so by 2020.”
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