When a company goes through a crisis as massive as KTM’s recent financial meltdown, every word from the top brass suddenly carries more weight. And in this case, it’s Gottfried Neumeister, the man now at the helm of KTM AG and Pierer Mobility, who’s choosing those words very carefully.
In a detailed interview with Cycle World, Neumeister laid out the full timeline of KTM’s troubles, from the collapse of its bicycle venture to the ill-timed MV Agusta deal and a wholesale strategy that flooded dealers with unsold bikes. But buried in all the talk of production restarts, employee sacrifices, and fresh capital from Bajaj was a small but telling comment about two brands that enthusiasts are watching closely: Husqvarna and GasGas.
Neumeister said the company is still deciding “how many brands to continue,” and that it’s a strategic call that can’t be rushed. He emphasized the need for proper market research and a data-driven approach, saying, “We need to understand the heritage and strength of each brand.” And that’s where it gets interesting, because it doesn’t sound like he’s just figuring out how to grow these brands. It sounds like he’s evaluating whether they’re worth keeping at all.
