Volkswagen AG is currently assessing the possibility of selling its Italian motorcycle subsidiary, Ducati. In a recent interview, Audi's Chief Executive Officer Gernot Döllner indicated that Ducati falls within the scope of the group's portfolio review, though no definitive decision has been made as of yet.
Döllner stated that the Volkswagen Group is committed to prudently and responsibly managing its business portfolio, with discussions surrounding Ducati forming part of this broader evaluation process. Of the group's approximately 2,000 companies, roughly 600 are currently under review. The restructuring plan approved by Volkswagen's supervisory board last week proposes reducing its business and shareholding portfolio by about one-third.
The fate of Ducati remains in the evaluation phase, and current statements should not be interpreted as an official sale arrangement. Ducati was acquired by Audi in 2012. Volkswagen previously explored selling the brand in 2017 before abandoning the effort due to opposition from German labor representatives. Its re-inclusion in the review has once again drawn attention to the future ownership of this Italian motorcycle manufacturer.
Despite remaining profitable last year, Ducati experienced a profit decline of more than 40%. According to the company's latest financial report, Ducati delivered 50,895 motorcycles to global customers in 2025, down from 54,495 units in 2024, representing a year-on-year decrease of approximately 6.6%. During the same period, revenue fell from €1.003 billion to €925 million, a decline of around 7.8%.
The profit contraction was even more pronounced. Ducati's operating profit for 2025 stood at €52 million, a decrease of approximately 42.9% from the €91 million recorded the previous year. The operating margin dropped from 9.1% to 5.6%. The company attributes the performance pressure to market contraction, U.S. tariffs, unfavorable currency exchange rate movements, and supply constraints on certain models during the transition to Euro 5+ emission standards. The affected Monster, Hypermotard, and DesertX models have returned to the product lineup in early 2026 equipped with new V2 engines.
Ducati remains profitable, and its brand appeal extends to the racing arena, having secured the MotoGP Constructors' Championship title for six consecutive years since 2020. For Volkswagen, balancing the operational returns of this brand against its retention value remains part of the ongoing business evaluation.
Comments