Latest Rumours Suggest Kawasaki May Acquire Italian Brand Bimota

Latest rumours coming out of Italy suggest that Kawasaki Heavy Industries may be close to finalising a deal to buy out Italian motorcycle brand Bimota. The reports go on to say that the sale has already taken place and there will be a press announcement on the news in the coming days. So far, there is no confirmed news about Bimota's sale yet, and the actual amount of the deal, if it has actually taken place. The Bimota brand is currently owned by Swiss entrepreneurs Marco Chiancianesi and Daniele Longoni. Neither side has confirmed the news of the deal, so it remains to be seen if the rumours are true.

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The Bimota DB8 is powered by the Ducati 1198 superbike engine

Nevertheless, the Bimota brand has been unheard of in recent years, and its factory in Rimini, Italy has also been closed for some time now. If Kawasaki has actually acquired the brand, or is in the final stages of acquiring it, there could be more than one reason for the Japanese giant to acquire the defunct Italian brand. It could be as simple as getting a wider foothold in the European market with a new line of products engineered and manufactured by Kawasaki, but under the Bimota brand to take on established Italian brands like Ducati and MV Agusta. Kawasaki could also be looking at a more pre-emptive tactical decision to acquire Bimota before any rival manufacturer decides to invest and resurrect the brand. Either ways, if the rumours are true, we will probably get to hear what exactly is happening quite soon, if and when the announcement is made. What is clear is that Bimota has some brand equity still, despite being a non-functional entity for some time now.

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Bimota was founded in 1973 in Rimini, Italy by Valerio Bianchi, Giuseppe Morri and Massimo Tamburini. The company takes its name from the first two letters of the surnames of the founders. Bimota concentrated initially on building high-quality motorcycles around existing engines, customising top models of Suzuki, Honda, Ducati and Kawasaki. Massimo Tamburini, Bimota's celebrated co-founder and long-time chief designer, has been an influential player in motorcycle design, particularly in the development of other Italian brands like Ducati and MV Agusta. Bimota bikes have had a colourful past, especially in racing, experiencing success in the early years of Superbike World Championship.