Well maybe this is the beginning of what to appears to be a major shift at Husqvarna Europe...

Announced today that Maximilian Kalbfell who oversaw BMW's MINI brand was taking over the position of Head of Marketing and Sales of Husqvarna Motorcycles.

Massimiliano Mucchietto who had headed up Husqvarna sales and marketing has left the company.

This was reported this morning on Nasdex News as well as on UltimateMotorcycling.com: http://www.ultimatem...marketing-sales

More street bikes.

Bruce

marketing aint gonna help bridge the gap

MrBlahh, on 01 February 2012 - 04:47 PM, said:

The guy put Mini on the map.

This is a car company that was out of business for 30 years or more before BMW brought them back to life,

No we're not talking dirt bikes... we're taking motorcycles.

An in the motorcycle space only two motorcycle companies have been profitable during the recession we're in.

1. is BMW and the other is Ducati.... everyone else is sucking wind especially KTM.

This guy is known for building successful brands.

Anyone want to take bets?

From what we know of the BMW strategy using Husky street bikes, they're playing the long game and trying to build the brand. A goal to ditch the dirt bikes would be stupid. That's the core strength of Husqvarna. They're building the brand through more visible avenues - street bikes. And now the guy that can lead that effort is in place at Husky.

The next couple years or so will be rough. But in the long run, if they pull it off, it will be worth it.

HuskyRips, on 01 February 2012 - 06:53 PM, said:

What facts have you to back up this statement? I believe it was reported recently that KTM has become #1 in total dirt bike sales.

KTM & Triumph Motorcycles and to a lesser extent Ducati, have all weathered well & grown in the down turn economy according to the magazines.

HuskyRips, on 01 February 2012 - 06:53 PM, said:

I stand by my statement, marketing does not make better bikes

HuskyRips, on 01 February 2012 - 06:53 PM, said:

Err NO..!!,

mini was a Marque ,

just like MV Agusta..remember them.. my Huskies say that on the headstock..!!


MINI's are made 1 mile form my work - 200 yards from my wife's,
they have Absolutely NOTHING to do with the original mini,
are relatively BIG , HEAVY and sell to "fashion victims",
so YES .. OooH GREAT more streetbikes just about sums it up.

I fully appreciate that the company needs to shift LARGE numbers of motorcycles to stay in business,
but that does'nt mean you have to lose your roots and identity,
just look at Ferrari , Bugatti , etc they may all be propped up by multinational 's but they are still viewed as "flagship brands".

Remember HOW BMW started in motoring - buliding small British car under license.

Charlie

Call it what you like, but consistent look, feel and well defined product lines are important. Is it really a co-incidence that KTM have grown in profile with European/US MX/SX racing success and the best overall looking product range ( that is consistent & cleanly presented ) along with a really nice hard parts strategy.
I'll back HR on this one, I think it's huge, not a complete solution obviously, but marketing is a very critical part of the puzzle & now that some core components like parts distribution have been BMW'd I think the overall plan will start becoming more clear.
Probably the biggest thing I'd say is it's a massive vote of confidence that it's a step up in BWM from Mini to Husky, to me that is surprising in a good way.

Guess we'll have to "Wait and see"

I hope the best for them, but this isn't the first time that HR predicted the "second coming" that never did........

AND ... the German press has just announced that BMW have replaced their head of motorcycle design (the man who gave us the Beemer scooters and that roofed over BMW scooter that only lasted a year. It´s not Husky that needs new management ... but there´s not much you can do about BMW.

You can paint a turd gold, but it's still a turd!!!!

no offense, but I don't think KTM is worried.... as Marc says, time will tell.

Marketing is wonderful if you have something to bring to the market. Other than the Husky name, an overweight, unavailable TXC310, and really slow TC250 there is not much to advertise. Time will tell. And I really do not think KTM is too worried.

HuskyRips, on 01 February 2012 - 06:53 PM, said:

$35,000 go cart! What's next a TE250 for $12,000. BMW has the $$ to support Husky but they also have crap management and knowledge of off road.

weantright, on 02 February 2012 - 12:53 PM, said:

No not at all... as I said right now there are only two motorcycle manufactures who have been in the black over the last 5 years and they are ... Ducati and BMW...

The only reason KTM continues to spend money on new product, racing and marketing is because their Indian owners Benji motors continues to pump money into their investment so they can introduce new KTM street bike product in India (Worlds largest motorcycle market)

Back to BMW... BMW invested a lot of money to buy Husqvana... not just that but they spent a lot of money developing NEW dirt bike product like the (New 2 strokes coming and new 450 4 stroke coming in 2013)

The bigger problem is Husqvarna doesn't have the dealer pipeline in place to sell enough dirt bikes to make the brand profitable.

So for Husqvarna to move more product they have to have something that NEW dealers want and can make MONEY ON!

Large displacement high-end street bikes make money... and will broaden the Husqvana product offering.

Only then will Husqvarna be able to move the numbers they need to grow the brand.

This is a very positive move on both BMW and Husqvarna part.

your fanboy posts are getting very amusing, keep up the good work

seem like this is a theme with Husky... BMW...whatever... there is always the next big move and wait til next year.

varesecrazy, on 02 February 2012 - 05:33 AM, said:

The old MINIs were crap! BMW resurrected a dead brand and the new MINIs are very nice... they even grew the brand and added an SUV!

I still remember back when Cagiva bought Moke from Mini back in the 1990s think they were going to make something big happen... What happened? The Moke died because it was still a piece of crap!

Then you have the Germans ... all of who now own Bugatti, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Lambergini all have passion and are better now than they have ever been.

I disagree about the MINI... the MINI was dead! and BMW made the brand hip again.

Just Sayen