New Husqvarna proprietor Pierer Industries, which is headed up by KTM chief executive Stefan Pierer, has announced that the brand’s factory at Cassinetta di Biandronno in Italy’s Varese region will shut down on 1 August.
Pierer has reportedly said that most of more than 200 production workers at the plant will then be made redundant after assembly of a final batch of about 3500 motorcycles from components in stock. Approximately 30 staff will be retained in sales and warehousing roles. Husqvarna, which posted an operating loss of almost £30m last year when it was still owned by BMW, already has an inventory of 12,000 unsold bikes.
Italian commentators expect Husqvarna R&D to be transferred to KTM in Austria and production of a revised off-road-only range to be outsourced to KTM’s Indian associate Bajaj. Local newspaper Varese News has described the move as “industrial looting” while Italian trade unions are trying to mobilise their affected members to take strike action or occupy the factory.