Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta seems intent on cracking the enormous Chinese motorcycle market.
In 2019, they signed an agreement with Chinese manufacturer Loncin to make 300-400cc bikes branded as MV Agusta for the world market.
Now they have signed a deal with another Chinese company, QJ-Motor, to distribute their bikes in China and possibly produce their bikes “at a later stage”.
New MV boss Timur Sardarov told us earlier this year that Chinese motorcycle manufacturing was well established and the economy was “quick-reacting economy, not disorganised”.
“They have one goal and they are ready to grow again,” he said.
“Their market is showing incredible growth already after the coronavirus.
“Let’s be very clear, we are developing our own platform and Loncin will industrialise it and produce for us for the world market.”
He rebutted suggestions the low-capacity Chinese-made bikes would dilute the premium Italian brand.
“Porsche is a premium product, but they have different products from $1m down to $50,000 and it’s still a premium product by quality not price,” Timur says.
“They (the Chinese-made bikes) will be the most expensive bikes in their category because they will have premium components.
“In comparison with KTM and Honda they will be more expensive, but have better performance and better build.”
The new deal with QJ-Motor will initially involve the distribution of MV Agusta models through a network of flagship stores across the country.
However, it may also involve production of their bikes in China, according to the strange wording in their press release:
“At a later stage the partnership will also have important developments on the industrial front, and collaboration in that sense is presently being defined.”