KTM

Kronreif, Trunkenpolz, Mattighofen (KTM) is an Austrian motorcycle manufacturer. The company was founded in 1934 by engineer Hans Trunkenpolz in Mattighofen. It started out as a metalworking shop and was named Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. more...

It wasn't until 1953 that KTM began production of motorcycles. With just 20 employees, motorcycles were built at the rate of three per day. In 1955, a businessman Ernst Kronreif became shareholder of the company, on acquiring a sizable portion of the company. It was then renamed Kronreif, Trunkenpolz, Mattighofen. Trunkenpolz died unexpectedly in 1962. During these early years of motocycle production at KTM, almost all components for the motorcycles were built in-house by KTM.

In 1992 the company became insolvent and was divided into three companies:

• KTM Sportmotorcycles GmbH, was renamed 1994 to KTM Sportmotocycles AG
• KTM Fahrrad GmbH (Bicycles)
• KTM Kühler GmbH (Radiators)

In the fiscal or business year ending in 2004/2005, KTM Sportmotocycles AG delivered 80,000 motorcycles worldwide and began a partnership with Polaris Industries. Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will help one another to extend their brands into the other's home market, KTM extending their reach into North America, and Polaris extinding into Europe. This partnership is a two year trial arangement, at the end of which both parties are giving the option of merging the two companies into one.

The Swedish motorcycle company Husaberg AB and Dutch White Power Suspension are now subsidiaries of the KTM Group.

Racing sponsorship

KTM began in motorsports with Motocross Racing. In the last few years KTM has gained more success in motorsports by dominating events such as the Paris-Dakar Rally and the Atlas-Rallye. In 2003 KTM started sponsoring and supporting Road racing in various capacities, with the most successful results stemming from their SuperMotard or Supermoto efforts. KTM's new road racing focus will soon grow to include Superbike competition with the help of their newly developed V-Twin engine dubbed the LC8 as employed in the 950 Adventure dual-sport motorcycle, and more specifically the 2005/2006 990 Super Duke followed by the superbike contender known as the RC8. The RC8 and Super Duke will share a higher output, second generation version of the LC8 engine, geared for high rpm peak power as required in road racing and superstreet applications.

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