Volkswagen Mulls Potential Purchase of Ducati Motorcycle Brand

Rumors are circulating that Volkswagen AG is evaluating a sale of the Italian motorcycle maker Ducati. The Financial Times reported that the German group is considering the deal to cut costs and improve overall profitability, while unions representing workers in Italy and Germany have demanded clear answers about Ducati's future. An anonymous Ducati employee is said to have seen internal documents indicating a formal offer for 100% of Ducati Motor Holding, though the source could not be independently verified. Neither Volkswagen nor Ducati has confirmed the existence of a bid, and Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali has previously downplayed any ownership change discussions. The speculation follows earlier, unmaterialised talks from 2017 and comes amid Volkswagen’s broader restructuring toward electrification and competition from Chinese manufacturers.