Is Lamborghini the Real Owner of Ducati?

12 years, 4 months ago - 3 August 2012, Autoblog

Will the real owner of Ducati please stand up? It seems things are not as cut-and-dry as we once understood. Audi has just released its 2012 Interim Financial Report, and there is an interesting little bit on its acquisition of Ducati.

It seems that not only was the performance motorbike producer purchased for less than previously stated, but it's technically not even owned by Audi.

In the breakdown from Asphaltandrubber.com, the Italian two-wheel purveyor was purchases for €747 million (or $980 million), less than the $1.1 billion at which Ducati was previously estimated. Even more interesting is that Ducati appears to have actually been acquired by Lamborghini. So, while Ducati falls under the Audi umbrella, it it technically is owned by Lamborghini. This news makes sense of the appointment of Ducati CEO Gabriele del Torchio to the Lamborghini board of directors.

There are two major outcomes from this maneuver. One, it keeps the Italian motorcycle brand (technically) in Italian hands. Two, with the emissions crackdown from the EU, putting a fleet of fuel-sipping motorcycles under Lambo's roof can throw off the curve and ease the heat from european officials.