Europe’s largest motorcycle manufacturer will resume production of the KTM and Husqvarna brands on Monday 11 May, with a target of normal operations by 18 May. By the end of this month, all of approximately 3800 employees at Pierer Mobility’s Austrian facilities, who had been furloughed or on short hours, will be working full-time.
The company had ceased bike production in March, when its supply chains from component sources in Italy dried up, owing to the coronavirus lockdown there. The staff of these Italian suppliers have now returned to work over the past week, making motorcycle assembly feasible again.
In a statement, it also noted improving market prospects: “Sales figures from Scandinavia and those regions such as Austria, Germany and China, where dealers have already reopened, give a positive outlook. In addition, due to related Covid-19 measures, KTM anticipates that powered two-wheelers will become increasingly important for private transport.”
Addressing his workforce, Pierer Mobility’s eponymous chief executive Stefan Pierer (pictured) added: “Thank you for your perseverance. Together, we will withstand this crisis and emerge strengthened from it.”