If you walked into a dealership today and asked who makes KTM motorcycles, you’d probably get a simple answer: "They're Austrian, mate." But that answer is barely half-true anymore.
As of January 2026, the ground has completely shifted under the "Ready to Race" brand. The iconic orange bikes are currently caught in the middle of a massive corporate tug-of-war that ended with a new name on the office door in Mattighofen.
Honestly, the situation is a bit of a mess if you're looking at it from the outside. For decades, the name Stefan Pierer was synonymous with KTM. He was the guy who pulled them from the brink of bankruptcy in the 90s. But things got rocky. Fast forward to right now, and the company is under brand-new management after a financial "restructuring" that looks a lot like a total takeover.
The New Boss: Bajaj Mobility AG
The biggest news hitting the industry this month is that Pierer Mobility AG—the parent company of KTM—no longer exists. On January 13, 2026, it was officially renamed Bajaj Mobility AG.
This isn't just a fancy logo change. It marks the moment India’s Bajaj Auto took full control of the reins. If you've been following the drama, you'll know KTM hit a wall in late 2024. They had too many bikes in warehouses and not enough cash in the bank. Bajaj, who has been a partner since 2007, stepped in with roughly 800 million euros to save the ship.
In exchange? They basically took the keys.
- Ownership Stake: Bajaj Auto now holds approximately 74.9% of the company.
- The Board: Stefan Pierer has stepped back. The new leadership team is headed by CEO Gottfried Neumeister, with a board heavily influenced by Bajaj executives like Dinesh Thapar and Srinivasan Ravikumar.
- The Brands: It’s not just KTM. Bajaj now controls Husqvarna and GasGas too.
Where Are KTMs Actually Built?
This is where things get "kinda" complicated for the purists. People love the "Made in Austria" sticker, but the reality is much more global.
The Mattighofen factory in Austria is still the heart of the operation. It recently reopened in July 2025 after a scary shutdown during the financial crisis. Currently, if you’re buying a high-end "halo" bike—think the 1390 Super Duke R or the 1390 Super Adventure—it’s coming out of Austria. The same goes for their high-end off-road competition bikes and the LC4 platform (the 690 SMC R and Enduro R).
But if you’re looking at the smaller stuff? That’s a different story.
The Indian Connection
Bajaj has been building the small-displacement KTMs for years in Chakan, India. If you own a Duke 125, 200, 250, or 390, your bike was born in India. There’s no point in hiding it; Bajaj is a manufacturing powerhouse, and those bikes are the reason KTM became a global giant in the first place.
The Chinese Partnership
Then there’s CFMoto. KTM has a massive joint venture in Hangzhou, China. This factory handles the production of the 790 series (790 Duke and 790 Adventure). While there were rumors that more production would shift here, the current 2026 strategy under Bajaj seems focused on consolidating more "mid-weight" production—like the upcoming 590 and 690 parallel twins—towards Indian facilities to keep costs down.
Why the Change Matters to You
You might be wondering why a rider should care about who signs the paychecks in the boardroom. Well, it’s already changing what you see on the showroom floor.
First, the company had to get lean. They’ve cut around 500 jobs in Austria recently. They also ditched "distractions" like the Felt bicycle brand and stopped the X-Bow car project to focus strictly on motorcycles.
Wait, what about the quality? That’s the million-dollar question. CEO Gottfried Neumeister has been vocal about "simplifying" operations. In plain English, that usually means fewer unique parts and more shared platforms between KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas.
"KTM will remain an Austrian company with independent management," Neumeister recently claimed.
But with Bajaj MD Rajiv Bajaj publicly criticizing the previous management for overproducing and making "strategic errors," you can bet the Indian headquarters in Pune is calling the shots on which models get the green light and which get the axe.
What’s Coming Next?
If you're planning on buying a KTM in 2026, keep your eyes on the LC8c (parallel-twin) models. There is a huge push to move almost all 790 and 890 production to Bajaj’s Chakan II plant. The goal is simple: lower prices to compete with Japanese brands while keeping the "premium" Austrian R&D.
Also, look out for the 2026 390 Adventure R. It’s one of the first major launches under this new "Bajaj-led" era, and it’s supposed to be a litmus test for whether the brand can maintain its "Ready to Race" soul while being owned by a massive global conglomerate.
Actionable Insights for KTM Buyers
- Check the VIN: If the first digit is a "V," it was made in Austria. If it’s an "M," it’s from India. "L" means it came from the CFMoto plant in China.
- Warranty Wins: To win back trust after the 2025 financial scare, KTM is currently offering a 4-year premium manufacturer’s warranty on many LC8 and LC8c models. If you're buying new, make sure your dealer includes this.
- Parts Availability: The restructuring was designed to fix the massive parts backlog of 2024. If you're looking at a used 2023 or 2024 model, check service records carefully to ensure all recalls were handled during the factory's "down" periods.
- Watch the Used Market: Because of the massive overstock issues in 2024, there are still a lot of "new-old-stock" 2024 models sitting on floors. You can often snag these for thousands less than a 2026 model, and the hardware is virtually identical.