BMW sells Husqvarna Motorcycles to Pierer Industrie
BMW has agreed to sell its Husqvarna motorcycle subsidiary to Austria’s Pierer Industrie, owned by KTM CEO Stefan Pierer, as part of a shift in BMW Motorrad’s strategic focus.
BMW Group has confirmed the sale of its Husqvarna Motorcycles business to Pierer Industrie AG, an Austrian company controlled by KTM chief executive Stefan Pierer. The agreement marks the end of BMW’s six-year ownership of the Italian-based off-road motorcycle brand. The deal is subject to approval by anti-trust authorities. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
BMW’s decision follows a strategic review of its motorcycle division. The company said it will now concentrate on urban mobility and e-mobility within its Motorrad business, moving away from the off-road and competition segment where Husqvarna is strongest. Husqvarna’s range centres on motocross, enduro and supermoto machines, with capacities from 125cc to 576cc and both two-stroke and four-stroke engines.
Husqvarna, founded in Sweden in 1903, was acquired by the Italian Cagiva group in 1987 before becoming part of MV Agusta. BMW took over the company in 2007, investing in new models and bringing Husqvarna’s engineering closer to BMW’s own operations. In 2012, Husqvarna sold 10,751 motorcycles, a 15.7 percent increase over the previous year, but still a fraction of the volume achieved by BMW and KTM, each selling around 100,000 bikes annually.
What the sale means for Husqvarna and BMW
Pierer Industrie’s acquisition puts Husqvarna under the control of Stefan Pierer, who also leads KTM, another major player in off-road motorcycles. The move is expected to create closer ties between Husqvarna and KTM, although the companies remain separate legal entities. For BMW, the sale is part of a broader shift towards electrification and urban mobility solutions, as seen in its recent investments in electric scooters and city-focused motorcycles.
