Volkswagen Buys One Fifth of Suzuki for $2.5 Billion… What’s Next?

After repeatedly expressing a burning desire to purchase a bike company– preferably a “small, valuable motorcycle manufacturer,” VW head Ferdinand Piech has now gone for the gold, announcing a $2.5 billion, one fifth stake in Suzuki.

Piech is a self-professed bike junky, once stating that “I myself drive a Ducati. 180 horses and more power per kilogram weight than a 1,001-hp Bugatti.” But it seems the Suzuki transaction would hit two birds with one stone: it would help Piech edge Volkswagen towards the goal of becoming the world’s number one carmaker– especially with the aided penetration of crucial emerging markets like India– while satisfying his craving to control a motorcycle manufacturer.

What will happen to the Suzuki motorcycle lineup, which includes icons like the Hayabusa and the GSX-R lineup? Presumably not much– at least initially– since motorcycles constitute only 16.9% of Suzuki’s net sales. But the repercussions of the German/Japanese union is intriguing, to say the least… thoughts?

Source: Reuters

Related:

• Could Fahrvergnügen Translate to Two Wheels?
• Volkswagen and KTM, Sittin’ in a Tree…

Photo © Basem Wasef; Click for 2008 Suzuki Buyer’s Guide

Volkswagen Buys One Fifth of Suzuki for $2.5 Billion… What’s Next? originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 12:34:03.

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