On March 28, just 15 months after breaking ground on the development, KTM North America and parent company Pierer Mobility celebrated the grand opening of their new North American headquarters in Murrieta, California.
In attendance at the event were Stefan Pierer, CEO of Pierer Mobility AG; members of Pierer Mobility AG’s global board of directors; employees of KTM North America, including members of the KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas factory race teams; local politicians and dignitaries; and numerous invited guests.
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“This is an emotional day for me,” said Pierer. “Exactly 30 years ago, I started in the USA with only a dozen employees. Today, we are Europe’s leading powered two-wheeler group, and we’re selling approximately 100,000 units annually in the U.S. market – so, more than $1 billion in sales. The most important success factor for us is racing; that is the driving force that pushed us over the years. Building our new North American headquarters in Murrieta was the biggest single investment we’ve ever made. We set a new standard for the whole U.S. market.”
Pierer stated that North America is Pierer Mobility’s most important market, which warranted the $53 million investment in the new headquarters campus.
Pierer Mobility AG purchased KTM out of bankruptcy in 1992, and at the time it had just 160 employees and sold only 6,300 motorcycles that year. Under Pierer’s stewardship, KTM grew slowly but steadily, but in the past decade its growth has accelerated.
In 2013, Pierer expanded its brand footprint by purchasing the legendary Swedish off-road brand Husqvarna from BMW, and in 2019, it acquired the Spanish off-road brand GasGas. Pierer Mobility AG also owns WP Suspension and the Felt and R Raymon bicycle brands.
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In 2022, three decades after Pierer acquired KTM, the KTM Group produced 375,492 motorcycles, an increase of 13% over 2021. Of those, 268,575 (71.5%) were KTMs, 75,266 (20%) were Husqvarnas, and 31,651 (8.5%) were GasGas motorcycles. During the same year, Pierer also produced 118,465 pedal and electric-assist bicycles for its Husqvarna, GasGas, Felt, and R Raymon brands.
Last year, Pierer also acquired a 25% stake in Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta, and it will provide distribution and marketing support in North America and other markets.
Pierer Mobility AG is very much on the gas, generating revenues of 2.437 billion euros in 2022, a 19% increase compared to 2021. It currently employs 6,000 workers around the globe, including 360 in North America – more than 200 of which are based in Murrieta, California.
John Hinz, CEO of KTM North America, Inc. and Pierer Mobility North America, Inc. was also in attendance at the grand opening, and he called the event a “massive milestone in our company’s history.”
“The campus and our facilities, this represents the single biggest investment by our company,” Hinz said, “so thank you to Mr. Pierer. We designed these buildings for our employees, race teams, athletes, and truly for our dealers across North America to help support our brands and help support sales. This new campus showcases not only the facilities as a tool for our employees and dealers, but it’s our commitment, our dedication, and our investment into the motorcycle and bicycle industry here in North America.”
The new headquarters occupies a 20-acre site that includes three buildings comprising a total of 130,000 square feet. The two-story administrative building includes office and conference space, facilities for dealer and technical training, space for media fleets, and Kiska’s North American design center. The powersports building houses the KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas factory race teams, WP Suspension, and R&D facilities. A third building serves as a warehouse.
Pierer Mobility also acquired 12 additional acres located adjacent to the new headquarters that have been set aside for future development. The group’s purpose-built private motorsports facility – RD Field – sits one block south of the corporate campus. It includes two supercross test tracks, a hard enduro test track, and a trials competition section for product testing and athlete training.
For more information, visit PiererMobility.com, KTM.com, Husqvarna-Motorcycles.com, or GasGas.com.
Nice report on the new Pierer Mobility / KTM – USA facility. I wish them all the best. One week ago, at age 74, I bought my first KTM – the 2023 KTM 890 Adventure. This is my 25th motorcycle, and I must say that it is very well designed with an emphasis on what actual riders want and need in a modern bike. Hey, the sun just came out – I think I’ll go ride my new KTM!
I think for many customers, they’ll be hoping there’s a nice new warehouse for spare parts, so they don’t have to wait weeks or months for a basic repair.
Yep,parts are an issue they really need to address.