Rumor: Volkswagen Group may sell Ducati

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JPSLotus

JPSLotus

Joined
Apr 6, 2015
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Bloomberg is reporting that in the wake of the emissions scandal, VW is looking to possibly start cutting costs, and non-core assets could be up on the chopping block when they start reviewing everything. Ducati is considered a non-core asset, so it has the potential to be unloaded. I don't know what kind of timeline we're looking at here, but that'd have a huge impact on their GP participation. Ducati itself isn't going to cease to exist or anything silly like that. GP participation could be problematic depending on who would buy them, and what kind of loss of funding would happen.

VW is also likely to announce plans for a portfolio review, which could lead to the sale of non-core assets, said the people. While no decisions have been made on which assets are expendable or what the time frame might be, ones that could end on that list include Ducati, the MAN Diesel & Turbo business and propulsion specialist MAN Renk, said the people. An initial public offering of the trucks business, which includes the Scania and MAN units, could also be considered down the road, one of the people said.

VW Said to Weigh Asset Sales in End to Era of Empire Building - Bloomberg
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Would love to see Honda take them over. There was rumor back then Honda had interest in MV when they had money issue
 
Makes good sense for VW to focus on their core business unit..

Though it may not be such a good thing to hear if you are JLo fan and were hoping Ducati was going to get endless pot of money for development from VW... :p

Maybe they'll get lucky and get bought by someone like Piaggio ;) ...
 
MigsAngel said:
Makes good sense for VW to focus on their core business unit..

Though it may not be such a good thing to hear if you are JLo fan and were hoping Ducati was going to get endless pot of money for development from VW... :p

Maybe they'll get lucky and get bought by someone like Piaggio ;) ...
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I was thinking about what could happen if they turned around and sold off Ducati in the middle of 2017. Lorenzo would have a ton of egg on his face especially if the funding all dried up to build the GP18. Imagine...he takes a pay cut just to get the GP18 built.
 
JPSLotus said:
I was thinking about what could happen if they turned around and sold off Ducati in the middle of 2017. Lorenzo would have a ton of egg on his face especially if the funding all dried up to build the GP18. Imagine...he takes a pay cut just to get the GP18 built.
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If they are looking to sell the Ducati then they will look to complete it the sale in this year.....so money may dry up right as he throws his leg over the bike after Valencia.....wouldnt it be horrid if they couldnt pay him in 2017 and the development budget dries up before Qatar 2017...
 
MigsAngel said:
If they are looking to sell the Ducati then they will look to complete it the sale in this year.....so money may dry up right as he throws his leg over the bike after Valencia.....wouldnt it be horrid if they couldnt pay him in 2017 and the development budget dries up before Qatar 2017...
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That'd have to go down as the all-time worst career move in GP history if that scenario unfolded?

I mean don't get me wrong, I think the move was already ill-advised, but retirement would be a better option if Ducati got sold and the funding disappeared. I'd love to see the press conference where he is being asked about how he feels the season will go with no development budget.
 
JPSLotus said:
That'd have to go down as the all-time worst career move in GP history if that scenario unfolded?

I mean don't get me wrong, I think the move was already ill-advised, but retirement would be a better option if Ducati got sold and the funding disappeared. I'd love to see the press conference where he is being asked about how he feels the season will go with no development budget.
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Surely, Jorge would have done some level of due diligence about Ducati and its financial viability going forward (with or without VW Money) up to 2019....he could not have been dumb enough just to sign without having some view of the risks and contingencies for Ducati....
 
I think he'd have the best ever excuse to renege on his contract, and Ducati couldn't really protest it if they can't supply the goods.
 
The only guarantee is the money, that they will have to pay. They cant guarantee competitiveness or what the world market may or may not do in the next 2 1/2 years. If VW dumps Ducati, he is stuck drawing his 15 million a year through 2018 no matter what Ducati puts on the track, Unless its stipulated that his contract is null and void if VW sells them. Even if it is in his contract, where is he going to go, there are no seats.
 
povol said:
The only guarantee is the money, that they will have to pay. They cant guarantee competitiveness or what the world market may or may not do in the next 2 1/2 years. If VW dumps Ducati, he is stuck drawing his 15 million a year through 2018 no matter what Ducati puts on the track, Unless its stipulated that his contract is null and void if VW sells them. Even if it is in his contract, where is he going to go, there are no seats.
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Not now but couldn't he possibly negotiate a competitive ride for 2018 season? Didn't Crutchlow leave early because he thought the bike uncompetitive.
 
povol said:
The only guarantee is the money, that they will have to pay. They cant guarantee competitiveness or what the world market may or may not do in the next 2 1/2 years. If VW dumps Ducati, he is stuck drawing his 15 million a year through 2018 no matter what Ducati puts on the track, Unless its stipulated that his contract is null and void if VW sells them. Even if it is in his contract, where is he going to go, there are no seats.
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I wouldn't believe to much in contracts these days. These guys have very good lawyers.

If Maverick does .... and Rossi doesn't win, Lorenzo fails he could go back to yam! Oh wait a minute that's happened before....

Ducati aren't short of cash. It didn't bother stoner in 2007
 
Wonder if Stoner caught wind of this earlier on. He's been low key lately.
 
CharlieParker said:
My god! People reacts strongly over internet "news"...
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Thats because we are a bunch of

AF4_certified_drama_queen.jpg
 
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MigsAngel said:
Tech 3....there seems to be some trouble filling the second seat according to the other thread and related article.... ;)
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Those seats will be filled by the end of the month for the next 2 full seasons would be my guess. He better move quickly.
 
povol said:
Those seats will be filled by the end of the month for the next 2 full seasons would be my guess. He better move quickly.
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He is not going anywhere...

Even if the story is true, it will be 12 months before any thing is final or closed. Even after that, the capital expenditures will have all ready been adjusted in for the 2018 budget.

No worries... For the next two years anyway..


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