KTM UK took all of its UK network to the firm’s European HQ in Mattighofen, Austria just before Christmas, for its annual dealer conference. It was the first chance since Covid struck for the orange brand’s dealers to see the factory, with the previous organised visits dating back to 2016.
And according to KTM UK’s marketing manager Simon Roots, the dealers who had been before saw big changes. “We hadn’t taken the dealers there for a long time. Since then, so many more buildings have been built, the expansion in the area has just been massive. Those that were familiar with the existing construction were really surprised at how much KTM has grown in the area. And for those who’ve never been before it, just blew them away with the size of the operation.”
Mattighofen itself is not a massive place – it’s described as a big village, and has a population of around 6500. But KTM continues to expand its presence there. “To have a manufacturing facility there, the spare parts facility, research and development, marketing, the motorsport building, WP Suspension manufacturing, building subframes – it’s just a massive operation,” said Roots.
The main part of the dealer conference took place in the KTM Motorhall, which is the firm’s museum. “There’s an auditorium inside so it’s a natural fit to get dealers in,” said Roots. “Before Covid they had hosted a few countries’ dealers there and we were on the list to go, but then Covid struck, so it was an opportunity when all the restrictions had been lifted. And obviously we wanted to go towards the end of the year so we could show new product: if we’d done it earlier we wouldn’t have been in a position to do that.”