Mercedes-AMG Buying 25 Percent of MV Agusta

In a deal that has been rumored for weeks, Daimler’s performance German brand Mercedes-AMG today announced that it will acquire 25 percent of MV Agusta. What Mercedes is paying for the quarter stake in the Italian maker of high performance bikes wasn’t disclosed. Mercedes-AMG will appoint one member to MV Agusta’s board of directors.

“MV Agusta and Mercedes-AMG are a perfect brand fit: Two complementary companies that stand for design, higher performance and excellence,” said Giovanni Castiglioni, president and CEO of MV Agusta. “Mercedes-AMG will help MV Agusta to further expand globally and to accelerate our growth.”

As 100 percent subsidiary of Daimler, Mercedes-AMG is the sports-car and performance division of Mercedes Benz cars.

Tobias Moers, chief executive of Mercedes-AMG, said, “In MV Agusta, we have found the perfect two-wheel partner for Mercedes-AMG. This manufacturer with a long tradition and Mercedes-AMG are connected not only by a long and successful racing history, but also by shared values and goals for the future – allowing the experience of utmost perfection, optimal performance and motorsports technology for the road.

The deal comes two years after another German automaker, Volkswagen, paid 860 million euros for Italian motorcycle-maker Ducati. The other major German car company, BMW, also has its BMW lineup of motorcycles.

The deal between Mercedes-AMG and MV Agusta is predicated on the approval of relevant authorities, which is expected in late November.

– By Bud Wilkinson