What company owns Ducati?

Ducati, known for its innovative precision machining and radio-electric products, is currently owned by German auto manufacturer Audi—since 2012—through its subsidiary in Italy, Lamborghini, which is itself a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group.

When was the first Ducati motorcycle built?

Although the Cucciolo (Italian for "puppy") is often considered to be Ducati's first motorbike, the Ducati 60 can be credited as being the first motorcycle ever built by Ducati in 1949. The Cucciolo (released in 1946) was the result of a collaboration between Ducati and SIATA, which Ducati purchased all manufacturing rights from. This was after SIATA became unable to meet the rising demand. The 60-cc motorcycle—Ducati 60—featured an updated, improved Cucciolo engine as well as a three-speed gearbox and aluminum covers protecting the rocker arms. This bike was designed to be lightweight, versatile, and appeal to the female audience. The success of this model led to the birth of many other models that followed. In the 1960s, BSA lost market share to both British and foreign manufacturers like Triumph, Norton, Honda, and Suzuki. To survive, BSA merged with Norton Villiers Triumph; however, this merger proved unsuccessful. They struggled to compete in an industry that was moving toward lighter motorcycles with greater acceleration, and by 1973 their sales had dropped so low that it was no longer financially viable for them to continue making bikes. Although the brand has been dormant for over 40 years, a new BSA bike is scheduled for release in 2022 and will be released under license by the Indian firm Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of the Mahindra Group.

Where is Ducati located?

Ducati is located in Bologna, Italy at Borgo Panigale. The italian motorcycle company was founded in 1926 by Adriano, Bruno, and Marcello Ducati, but it was not until the 1940s that the company began to produce motorcycles.

What are Ducati fans called?

Ducati fans are called "Ducatisti."There's a lot of passion and history behind the Ducati brand, and that can be seen by the amount of loyalty Ducati fans show for their favorite brand, whether it's on social media or at the track.

History of Ducati

Ducati motorcycles have always been known for their unique styling, performance, and cutting-edge technology. The Italian motorcycle manufacturer has been operating since 1926 and has produced some of the most iconic and coveted motorcycles in history. It has since become one of the most popular motorcycle companies in the world.

Origin Story

The history of Ducati motorcycles dates back to the 1900s when three brothers from Italy founded the "Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati." The company was established to manufacture radio equipment, but over time they began to experiment with motorcycle engines.

Today, Ducati—owned by Audi (a German auto manufacturer)—has become one of the most acclaimed motorcycle brands in the world, with a long history of producing high-quality bikes that have won multiple competitions and events.

The Ducati Brothers

The main characters behind The Ducati Motorcycle story are Bruno Cavalieri Ducati, Marcello Cavalieri Ducati, and Adriano Cavalieri Ducati, who—with their entrepreneurial spirit, and love for innovation—turned a small start-up into an international success story.

The three Italian brothers founded Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati in 1926 for the manufacture of radio and electrical components, and they each had specific roles to play in the business. The head of the project and site was Bruno, with Marcello leading personnel, and Adriano heading research and production.

By the 1930s, Ducati was the largest employer in Bologna, Italy. They continued increasing production through World War II until their factory was heavily damaged during an Allied bombing raid in 1944.

At that point, production was discontinued until 1945 when the brothers decided to make motorcycles. This led to the production of the Cucciolo (Italian for "puppy")—which began after the purchase of manufacturing rights from SIATA which had failed to meet the rising demand.

Although the production of motorcycles increased company profits, business continued to falter because damage suffered during the war could not be repaired. In 1948, Ducati was nationalized by the Italian government.

In 1949, the Ducati 60, which can be rightfully referred to as the very first motorcycle ever to be fully produced by Ducati was created. The success of this model pioneered more innovative motorcycles that could compete with other big names of the time and go on to win multiple races.

History

The Ducati Motorcycle company is one of the most renowned motorcycle brands worldwide. While the company has gone through financial hardship and change in ownership, this hasn't allowed it to take its eyes off of what matters most, making quality motorcycles.

Ducati Innovations

Here is an overview of Ducati's innovations throughout their history.

Ducati's innovations date back to 1926 when the "Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati" was founded to produce radio and electrical components.

Adriano Ducati's previous successful invention of a short-wave device to connect Italy to the U.S led to the brothers meeting the famous radio inventor, Guglielmo Marconi. He visited the Ducati headquarters in 1934, during the First Italian Radio-technicians Conference, and signed a photograph for his hosts, which is still in their possession today.

In 1945 they began production of the Cucciolo, a small motorbike with a 125cc engine that could reach speeds of 50mph (80km/h). They later introduced their first fully-fledged motorcycle – the Ducati 60 in 1949. This bike featured an overhead valve engine with a capacity of 60cc and also had leading-link front suspension and rear swingarm suspension. It was this model that established Ducati as a major player in motorbike racing throughout Europe.

In 1953, the company was split into two entities—Ducati Meccanica SpA and Ducati Elettronica—to better distinguish its diverging motorcycle and electronics product lines. Government assistance helped modernize the Borgo Panigale factory, which was headed by Dr. Giuseppe Montano.

Since then, Ducati has continued to innovate and push boundaries, becoming one of the most respected brands in motorcycling. For this reason, their bikes are sought after by riders around the globe for their performance and style.

Key Milestones

Ducati is one of the world's most recognizable motorcycle manufacturers, and it's no surprise. The company has been around since 1926 and has produced some of the most iconic bikes in history. Here are just a few of the milestones that have helped make Ducati what it is today.

Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati

1926
The Ducati Motorcycle Company was founded by the Ducati family in Bologna, Italy. Since then, it has become one of the most successful motorcycle manufacturers in history.

Item Link List Item 1

1946 - 1960

1962 - 1989

1990 - 1999

2000 - 2012

Ducati World Tour

Ducati's reputation grew in 1957 when two Ducati employees—Leopoldo Tartarini and Giorgio Monetti—set out on an ambitious around-the-world motorcycle tour on two 175 T models. After traveling through five continents and experiencing four revolutions, the two men completed their incredible adventure in 1958. They achieved their goal of raising international awareness about the performance capabilities of Ducati motorcycles.

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Over 90 Years in Business

Ducati has been around for over 90 years, surviving the damage of World War II and other challenges to become a renowned motorcycle manufacturer. In 2012, Ducati was purchased by Audi, a German auto manufacturer, which has been running it since then with great success.

Noteworthy Statistics

Ducati is a company that has been around since 1926 and has produced some of the most iconic motorcycles in the world.

Ducati is a company that has been around for over 90 years, and though it's a renowned motorcycle manufacturer, it began as a start-up producing radio and electric components.

The Ducati Motor Company, founded in 1926 by Adriano and Marcello Ducati, has experienced over 70 years of victory, winning 407 races in its history. It has won 18 Constructors titles, and 15 Riders titles, and has been one of the most successful teams in racing history.

In the 1930s, Ducati was the largest employer in Bologna, Italy, and was employing 5000 workers by the onset of World War II.

Ducati reported 59,447 unit sales of motorcycles in the year 2021, a 23.7 percent increase when compared to figures from the year 2020.

Check out our blog post 25 Interesting Facts About Ducati

Models by Type

Ducati has a long history of making motorbikes, and they're known for their style, speed, and reliability. There are several types of Ducati motorcycles, and each one has its unique characteristics.

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Check out our History of the Ducati Logo and our curated Ducati Gear.

Ducati FAQ

What company owns Ducati?

Ducati, known for its innovative precision machining and radio-electric products, is currently owned by German auto manufacturer Audi—since 2012—through its subsidiary in Italy, Lamborghini, which is itself a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group.
When was the first Ducati motorcycle built?

Although the Cucciolo (Italian for "puppy") is often considered to be Ducati's first motorbike, the Ducati 60 can be credited as being the first motorcycle ever built by Ducati in 1949.
The Cucciolo (released in 1946) was the result of a collaboration between Ducati and SIATA, which Ducati purchased all manufacturing rights from. This was after SIATA became unable to meet the rising demand.
The 60-cc motorcycle—Ducati 60—featured an updated, improved Cucciolo engine as well as a three-speed gearbox and aluminum covers protecting the rocker arms. This bike was designed to be lightweight, versatile, and appeal to the female audience. The success of this model led to the birth of many other models that followed.

In the 1960s, BSA lost market share to both British and foreign manufacturers like Triumph, Norton, Honda, and Suzuki. To survive, BSA merged with Norton Villiers Triumph; however, this merger proved unsuccessful.

They struggled to compete in an industry that was moving toward lighter motorcycles with greater acceleration, and by 1973 their sales had dropped so low that it was no longer financially viable for them to continue making bikes.

Although the brand has been dormant for over 40 years, a new BSA bike is scheduled for release in 2022 and will be released under license by the Indian firm Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of the Mahindra Group.
Where is Ducati located?

Ducati is located in Bologna, Italy at Borgo Panigale. The italian motorcycle company was founded in 1926 by Adriano, Bruno, and Marcello Ducati, but it was not until the 1940s that the company began to produce motorcycles.
What are Ducati fans called?

Ducati fans are called "Ducatisti."There's a lot of passion and history behind the Ducati brand, and that can be seen by the amount of loyalty Ducati fans show for their favorite brand, whether it's on social media or at the track.