Audi buying ducati!! wow | Page 5 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Audi buying ducati!! wow

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mmmnaked said:
I'm gonna go on a limb and say that increase in sales % is more important than overall volume to any one company. :lol:

You wouldn't compare volume between BMW and VW. It's meaningless.
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Its not meaningless when it indicates market share. At least from an investment perspective.
 
mmmnaked said:
Harleys appeal to "Harley guys". Generally, if you are indifferent to the brand, you won't buy one. You'll get more value elsewhere.

Ducati, like all OTHER manufacturers, create motorcycles for many different segments of the market. Small naked bikes, hooligan streetfighters, sport/adv tourers, muscle cruiser, supersports, etc etc. AND their products are very well received in the motorcycling community as a whole. The reputation and the products are both strong.
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Wouldn't you agree that Harley is more competetive in their market.....cruiser and custom bikes?
Don't Japanese sport bikes provide more "value" than a Ducati.......basing it on performance vs $$ ?
 
murf said:
Wouldn't you agree that Harley is more competetive in their market.....cruiser and custom bikes?
Don't Japanese sport bikes provide more "value" than a Ducati.......basing it on performance vs $$ ?
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Ducati = more sexytime.
 
murf said:
Wouldn't you agree that Harley is more competetive in their market.....cruiser and custom bikes?
Don't Japanese sport bikes provide more "value" than a Ducati.......basing it on performance vs $$ ?
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Yeah Harley is very competitive in their market, but their market is narrow. Cruisers, and slightly bigger cruisers :lol:

Ducati makes a diverse range of bikes. The thing is, they haven't always been so successful with so many different models. If you think about their product line, they've had a pretty large restructuring. Their superbikes were always 'exclusively' priced.. then the 1098 comes out with a hugely appealing design, a far friendlier maintenance schedule, and much better pricing than the outgoing 999. It brought Ducati into the mainstream. They overhauled their bread and butter Monsters and made them even better bikes, then they redesigned the Multistrada into something people actually wanna buy. The Hypermotard was also a successful departure from the norm, as is the Diavel.

But that's why they're in debt. The last decade was a huge push in research and development of new models, new platforms, and new engines... but I think they've picked up a lot of new buyers and a lot of new traction in the market. I'd say all these companies eyeing to purchase Ducati are well aware of this and see the value in the company and brand.
 
Valid points but isn't what all the mainstream brand of motorcycle have to do to remain competitive. It just highlights the challenge niche motorcycle companies such as Ducati and others will always have as they do not have the scale to compete and remain profitable and will be acquire by other larger conglomerate.

Ducati is a strong brand but only appeals to a smaller group of motorcyclists.
 
Does it really matter what billionaire scumbag buys and owns what company? Same ****, different package. If bikes quality stays the same or improves, that's all that's important.
 
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mmmnaked said:
Yeah Harley is very competitive in their market, but their market is narrow. Cruisers, and slightly bigger cruisers :lol:

Ducati makes a diverse range of bikes. The thing is, they haven't always been so successful with so many different models. If you think about their product line, they've had a pretty large restructuring. Their superbikes were always 'exclusively' priced.. then the 1098 comes out with a hugely appealing design, a far friendlier maintenance schedule, and much better pricing than the outgoing 999. It brought Ducati into the mainstream. They overhauled their bread and butter Monsters and made them even better bikes, then they redesigned the Multistrada into something people actually wanna buy. The Hypermotard was also a successful departure from the norm, as is the Diavel.

But that's why they're in debt. The last decade was a huge push in research and development of new models, new platforms, and new engines... but I think they've picked up a lot of new buyers and a lot of new traction in the market. I'd say all these companies eyeing to purchase Ducati are well aware of this and see the value in the company and brand.
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Are they in debt because of R&D or because they brought their prices down as you mentioned about the 1098? Or are they in debt because of their unionized workforce making big $$$$ with 6 weeks of vacation? I actually don't know much about their workforce but I'm assuming based on Europe in general.
 
omg 6 weeks of vacation so crazy?

Next you are gonna say 40 hr workweeks are crazy.

Even China has 3 weeks off a year.
 
crankcall said:
History and heritage are a funny thing, Ducati didnt build ANY motorcycles for the first 30yrs the company existed. Now its all they are known for. Lambo built farm equipment.
When Ducati was bought by the Americans it was a disaster, giving it back to the Italians gave it them a chance. Now with solid management to match design and "inspiration" they may be ready for the next 50years.
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What are you smoking and can I get some???
What was so disastrous about Texas Pacific Group’s ownership of Ducati? They actually did some very good things that helped put Ducati on its present path.
 
OpenGambit said:
omg 6 weeks of vacation so crazy?

Next you are gonna say 40 hr workweeks are crazy.

Even China has 3 weeks off a year.
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Yup, no difference between 3 weeks and 6 weeks?????

Paying people to stay home is good for the companies profits I suppose!

Looks like in China it's 1 week min.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_statutory_minimum_employment_leave_by_country



China 5 working days (from 1 to 9 years seniority), 10 working days (from 10 to 19), 15 working days (from 20 years onwards).


Italy on the other hand:

At least 20 working days (exact amount depends on contract details, a few contracts guarantee up to 25 days), entirely paid, plus up to 104 hours of ROL, that means reduction of working time (in Italian Riduzione Orario di Lavoro), that have to be used primarily in blocks of a few hours each time for family/personal needs (for example bringing a kid to the doctor, going to the bank etc.) but may be utilized as well, just for the unused part of them and just if the company/the collective contract allows that, to get additional vacation hours/days, or to shorter of 1 or 2 hours the working day on Fridays. Furthermore, there are 12–13 paid public holidays.
 
I have business in China, and you have no idea what you are talking about.

Statutory holidays also have nothing to do with negotiated vacation
 
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murf said:
Yup, no difference between 3 weeks and 6 weeks?????

Paying people to stay home is good for the companies profits I suppose!
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While your post is factually correct (that it doesn't monetarily benefit companies to give employees more paid days off), we should all STRIVE for that. Owners and upper management get to drive around in Ferraris while the little guy has to bust his back 40hrs/week for paltry salary and vacation days.

6 weeks?? I'd say that's a start...
 
mmmnaked said:
While your post is factually correct (that it doesn't monetarily benefit companies to give employees more paid days off), we should all STRIVE for that. Owners and upper management get to drive around in Ferraris while the little guy has to bust his back 40hrs/week for paltry salary and vacation days.

6 weeks?? I'd say that's a start...
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My boss's boss's boss's boss drives a Hyundai Santa Fe. Just sayin.
 
SunnY S said:
Those germans are a shrewd bunch.

I'll make a fearless prediction.... this deal WON'T go through.

Would make for a nice fairy tale though.

Actually, IMHO, M-B would be better suited to Ducati.
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Good thing you predicted, and didn't make a bet... :p !!!
Deal to close within a month (according to BNN this morning).
Audi to pay slightly over $1B.
 
Gary said:
Good thing you predicted, and didn't make a bet... :p !!!
Deal to close within a month (according to BNN this morning).
Audi to pay slightly over $1B.
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are they also assuming the debt?
 
I believe that includes assuming the debt - much of the purchase price includes simply paying it off.
 
caboose483 said:
My boss's boss's boss's boss drives a Hyundai Santa Fe. Just sayin.
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One of my old bosses drove around in a Nissan Micra. But every now and then he came to work in his Porsche or open wheeled kit car. He also had a yacht and lived on the sea coast. And he jogged at lunch at an average 13.5kph pace. He also loved to chat with me about bikes...as he had one also. What an F'n bad ***!

Any upper level boss who shows up to work in a tiny $h*t box, even if he has a luxury car is A OK in my book!
 
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