User:Pratyushg/KTM Sportmotorcycle

KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle manufacturer, which was formed in 1992 but traces its foundation as early as in 1934. In 1992 the company was spun-off from its parent company KTM when it ran into financial troubles. KTM was split into four companies, all of which shared the same KTM branding, and in present have many more subsidiaries with the same branding. However, KTM-Sportmotorcycle is most commonly associated with the iconic KTM branding, because of the fact that it still continues the flagship business of its parent company.

KTM is known for its off road motorcycles though in recent years it has expanded into street motorcycle production and also developing a sports car.

Foundation
In 1934 an Austrian engineer Johann (Hans) Trunkenpolz setup a metalworking and locksmith shop in Mattighofen. In 1937 he started selling DKW motorcycles and Opel cars the following year. His shop was known as Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen but the name was unregistered. During the Second World War his wife took care of the business which grew mainly of diesel engine repairs.

After the war, demand for repair works fell sharply and Trunkenpolz started thinking about producing his own motorcycles. The prototype of first motorcycle R100 was produced in 1951. All of the components of the motorcycle were produced in house, except for the Rotax engines which were made by Fichtel & Sachs.

KTM Era
In 1953, businessman Ernst Kronreif became a sizable shareholder of the company which was then renamed and registered as Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. KTM started serial production of R100 in 1954. With just 20 employees, motorcycles were built at the rate of three per day.

The company’s first title was secured shortly thereafter with the 1954 Austrian 125 national championship. KTM first made an appearance at the International Six Days Enduro in 1956 where Egon Dornauer secured a gold medal. Racing continued to be a testing ground for production technology, but next in line was its first scooter, the Mirabell. It started providing a factory team for the ISDE in ’64. As the company continued to expand, the workforce totaled 400 in 1971, and forty years after it was founded, KTM was offering 42 different models

In 1955 Tourist 125cc model was developed. In 1957 KTM built the first sports motorcycle Trophy 125cc. KTM's first moped, called Mecky was launched in 1957, followed by Ponny I in 1960 and Ponny II in 1962. The 60's decade saw the beginning of the bicycle production. Beside, KTM was also able to produced motorcycles for the racing industry.

Kronreif died in 1960. Two years later in 1962 Trunkenpolz too died of a heart attack and his son Erich Trunkenpolz took charge of the company's management. It's name was changed back to Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. At that time, KTM had about 180 employee and a turnover that would represent €3,5 Millions.

In 1978, US subsidiary KTM North America Inc. was founded in Lorain, Ohio. International business amounted then to 72% of the company turnover. In 1980, it was renamed KTM Motorfahrzeugbau AG.

Scooter and moped turnover sank rapidly, and production had to be halted in 1988. Erich Trunkenpolz died in 1989 and in 1991, KTM applied for insolvency. Its management was taken up by banks who split the company into four new entities in 1992:
 * KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH, motorcycles division
 * KTM Fahrrad GmbH, bicycles division
 * KTM Kühler GmbH, radiators division
 * KTM Werkzeugbau GmbH, tooling division

KTM-Sportmotorcycle
KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH started operation in 1992 and later took over the sibling tooling division KTM Werkzeugbau. In 1994 KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH was renamed KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG. In the same year it started production of Duke series of road motorcycles.

In 1995 KTM acquired Swedish motorcycle maker Husaberg AB.

In 1997 LC4 Supermoto and LC4 Adventure motorcycles are introduced by KTM.

Ownership
KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG is fully owned by KTM AG (formerly known as KTM Power Sports AG). In November 2007,  Bajaj Auto Limited of India acquired 14.5% stake in KTM Power Sports AG and increased their shareholding to 47% by 2012.

At present KTM AG is 51% owned by CROSS KraftFahrZeug Holding GmbH, a subsidiary of CROSS Industries AG and 47% owned by Bajaj Auto. CROSS Industries is founded by KTM's current CEO Stefan Pierer.

Subsidiaries
In present KTM-Sportmorocycle AG has the following subsidiaries:
 * KTM-Racing AG
 * KTM Events & Travel Service AG
 * KTM Dealer & Financial Services GmbH
 * Husaberg AB

Joint Ventures
KTM started exporting their GS model to USA in 1968 through an American importer, John Penton under the Penton brand. This JV lasted until KTM established KTM America Inc. in Ohio in 1978.

In 2005, KTM-Sportmotocycle began a partnership with ATV manufacturer Polaris Industries with the goal of shared R&D, and more importantly shared distribution networks. This partnership was a two-year trial arrangement, at the end of which both parties had the the option of merging the two companies into one. In 2006, KTM announced that the partnership with Polaris had been downgraded, and would instead only supply their 450cc and 510cc RFS engines to Polaris.

In January 2008, Bajaj announced that it would jointly develop two new 125cc and 200cc bikes for Europe and the Far East. The bikes would be badged KTM. In January 2012, Bajaj launched the Duke 200 model in India.

Motocross
Currently KTM produces mootorcycles purpose-built for motocross races under the SX series. The engine displacemnt varies from model to model. Some of the models are powered by 2-stroke engines and some are by 4-stroke ones. They all have liquid cooling system which may be water-cooled or oil-cooled, depending on the model.

Enduro
The 2009 EXC line consists of 250, 450, 530 (actually 510 cc) four-strokes, and 125, 200, 250 and 300 cc two strokes. The EXC line has been a long-time favourite for Enduro market, and outsell other larger-volume brands to Enduro racers. The RFS motor (2000–2007) was replaced with the XC4 motor for the 2008 model year. Super Enduro consist of 690 cc and 950 cc machines, mix between an enduro and a trail bike.

Supermoto
KTM produces several supermoto race bikes with displacements ranging from 450 (a supermoto version of the 450sx-f) to 690 cc. They also make four non race-oriented models in 625, 654, 950 and 990 cc displacements. KTM was the first manufacturer to offer a competition-ready Supermoto bike to the public, and their sponsored racers currently sit atop the US Supermoto racing circuit. The new LC8 SuperMoto 950 has received rave reviews from all the bike magazines and newspapers in the United Kingdom.

Dual-Sport
Adventure bikes offered with both the LC4 Engine (Adventure 640, 640R) and the LC8 Engine (Adventure 950, 950S, 990), the 640R is the base of the Rally 660 which has won many Dakar Rallies.

Sports Cars
KTM has a lightweight street legal car known as the X-Bow. It uses an Audi engine and a Dallara sourced chassis. It has been designed by KiskaDesign, a Salzburg-based design firm which is also partially owned by KTM AG. This car seats two people.

KTM models
Motorcycles manufactured by KTM include:


 * 50 SX Mini
 * 65 SX
 * 450 EXC
 * 690 Enduro, 690 Enduro R
 * 950 Adventure, 950 Adventure S
 * 990 Adventure, 990 Adventure S, 990 Adventure R
 * 1190 RC8, 1190 Adventure, 1190 Adventure R