BMW to buy Husqvarna

[Bob]

BMW has announced it is to buy Husqvarna from MV Agusta.

"With the Husqvarna models, which are focused on sports competitions, we can expand the range of BMW Motorrad to younger target groups as well as to the entire offroad and supermoto segment," said BMW's motorcycle division head, Herbert Diess "And we will have access to a global sales network in the off-road segment."

Husqvarna - which made 12,000 bikes last year - would continue to operate as an independent unit and its facilities in the northern Italian region of Varese would be maintained.

The acquisition has yet to be approved by the European competition authorities.

[xwhatsit]

Hehehe -- can't get this image out of my head, of BMW buying Husqvarna so they can finally release a BMW-branded vacuum cleaner.

Still haven't managed to fully associate Husqvarna with motorcycles just yet.

[janno]

Husqvarna also make mighty fine sewing machines. Can't kill 'em with a brick. I'm thinking about getting one again for my next machine, actually . . .

[chris]

Still haven't managed to fully associate Husqvarna with motorcycles just yet.

They built their first motorcycle in 1903...

[steved]

Are BMW just buying Husqvarna Motorcycles? How does the rest of the Husqvarna group fit in or are they already entirely seperate?

[Sparky Bills]

Their funeral!

[slowpoke]

Apparently all the Husqvarna owners are getting a free cardigan as part of the "welcome to BMW" campaign.......

[chris]

Are BMW just buying Husqvarna Motorcycles?

According to the press releases, yes.

[xwhatsit]

They built their first motorcycle in 1903...

Oh no, I'm aware now since I got into motorcycling they have a long tradition of making some very nice dirt bikes.

But the image of mum's red Husqvarna vacuum cleaner is firmly lodged in my brain