For the 12th year in a row, things are looking good for KTM parent company Pierer Mobility Group as it reports record growth for 2022. Most impressive, a 13-percent sales increase and 19-percent goose for the Austrian powerhouse’s revenue stream. That translates to 375,612 motorcycles sold during 2022, up by 42,731 units from its 2021 numbers. 

Pierer Mobility Group, which holds KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas as assets in its motorcycle heavy portfolio, is no stranger to success. Ever since CEO and majority shareholder Stefan Pierer purchased KTM in 1992 he’s had one goal in mind, to dominate. Be it in the financial markets or on race and rally podiums, Pierer’s direction has guided KTM, Husqvarna and most recently GasGas to notable success. 

In 2022 GasGas won its first Dakar and launched a MotoGP team to increase the chances of a Pierer Group brand finally winning more coveted titles on that lucrative battlefield. After all, it’s already dominating off-road racing — as proven with this month’s 2023 Dakar top 3 spots where Pierer brands KTM and Husqvarna were 1-2-3 on the podium. 

Today Pierer Mobility is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of petrol powered two wheelers, with a sales volume of around 130,000 units sold within the EU during 2022. Where did the other 245,000 unit lion’s share of product go? Much of it was sold in North America of course, a territory Stefan Pierer has long insisted is key to the Group’s success. Other large consumers of Pierer motorcycle products were Australia and India. 

• Revenues FY 2022 between EUR 2,420 and 2,435 million (+19%)
• Sales: 375,612 motorcycles (+13%)
• Sales: 118.427 E-Bicycles & Bicycles (+15%)
• Expected EBIT margin between 9 and 10 percent

If there’s one thing clear about Pierer’s long run of success it’s that innovation was an early driver. Stefan has said many times that R&D is the key to his brands’ successful future, and that Pierer Mobility regularly reinvests around 8.9% of annual revenue back into R&D. 

Another key component of profitability has been the Group’s agility within the global market. The company’s so-far successful partnership with India’s Bajaj Auto and its more recent cooperative deal with China’s CFMoto and distribution agreement with MV Agusta, are opening doors to manufacturing cost reduction and expansion of Pierer products to more corners of the world. 

Another feather in Pierer’s portfolio has been its investment in an electrified future, with its Husqvarna, GasGas, Felt and R Raymon bicycles and e-bicycles enjoying a sale growth of 15-percent for 2022 with 118,427 units sold, 15,674 more than reported for 2021.

Since Stefan Pierer rescued a flailing KTM three decades ago, he and the familial dynasty the Pierer board has built around that first brand have gained envious momentum. Not too bad for a guy who started out as a sales rep for a heating and air conditioning company, huh? 

One challenge going forward will be not to go overboard with homogenization of its technologies, something consumers are already sensing with so many popular KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas bikes differing by little more than their color schemes. Yet news of a new 990cc version of the company’s LC8c parallel twin hints at least of further evolution. 

Certainly the Pierer Group is optimistic about its future, saying in the statement it forecasts a 6-10 percent growth and operating margin of 8-10 percent for 2023.  

Author: Jamie Elvidge

Jamie has been a motorcycle journalist for more than 30 years, testing the entire range of bikes for the major print magazines and specializing in adventure-travel related stories. To date she’s written and supplied photography for articles describing what it’s like to ride in all 50 states and 43 foreign countries, receiving two Lowell Thomas Society of American Travel Writer’s Awards along the way. Her most-challenging adventure yet has been riding in the 2018 GS Trophy in Mongolia as Team AusAmerica’s embedded journalist.