Ducati has announced it will take control of Australian and New Zealand distribution, a responsibly previously managed for 55-years by private distributor, NF Importers.
Ducati will directly manage distribution to the Australian and NZ markets through a new fully owned subsidiary which will become effective starting from 1 April 2020.
NF Importers, the current Ducati importer, started the Ducati distribution in Sydney in 1964, expanding the network throughout the years up to 24 dealerships that today cover the entire continent as well as New Zealand.
NF Importers plans to maintain full control of all the directly owned dealers in Australia while business operations for the entire continent and New Zealand will be taken over by the new Ducati subsidiary.
Warren Fraser – NF Importers Managing Director said “I believe that we have represented the Ducati brand very successfully in good and bad market conditions since 1964 and have established the Ducati brand as one of the predominant prestige motorcycle marques in Australia and more recently New Zealand.
We have built the brand together with our Ducati friends from virtually nil in this country to where it is today. We have put an estimated 55,000 Ducati motorcycles into the Australian and New Zealand markets, we have consistently been one of the highest achieving countries in terms of market share and we have built a large and loyal band of Ducatisti”
Francesco Milicia – VP Global Sales and After Sales for Ducati see now as the right time to further invest in Australia and NZ, “Australia and New Zealand have always been key strategic markets for Ducati and we believe that it is the right moment to enhance our presence by investing in a National Sales Company. Ducati received from Australia some of our greatest heroes, Troy Corser, Troy Bayliss and Casey Stoner, and it is time for us to return the favor to the market through a subsidiary that will fuel the passion of all Ducatisti even further”
The new Ducati subsidiary will be under the leadership of Sergi Canovas, who comes from a long experience in the motorcycle industry. “I am extremely happy and honored to take this responsibility, said Canovas. “Ducati has been well represented by NF Importers and I am looking forward to continue the fruitful relationship with them on the retail side. Establishing the subsidiary in Australia and New Zealand will assert the brand’s DNA and values of Ducati, translating them into an enhanced experience for all our Ducatisti across Australia and New Zealand”
For the last three years, Canovas has headed up the team of Ducati India, as Managing Director, successfully positioning Ducati as the most premium and desired motorcycle brand in the market.