KTM is a popular motor cycle brand that finds its origin from Austria. Its stands for Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen which basically means motor cycle. It is a very popular bike brand and is most famous for its sports segment. The most important features of these bikes are durability and speed. It is currently co-owned by Austrian company Pierer Mobility AG and the Indian motor company Bajaj Auto.

History and Early Developments

The origin of KTM by its founder Johann Trunkenpolz can be traced back to a car repair shop. He then opened a shop to sell automobiles and named it Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. This is the very first evidence of the naming of KTM brand and is named in honor of the great pioneer of motor bikes. His company faced some problems and the license for operating it had to be cancelled due to World War II. But he never gave up and soon opened his own shop again and started producing his own bikes for sale.

Growth of KTM

After Ernst Kronreif a notable businessman became a major shareholder of the company in 1953, there was more capital for the production and manufacturing capacity increased. He joined and re-registered the company in his name as Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. This brought about major changes in the company and developed the company further to produce scooters.

Branches around the World

KTM is a widely popular brand and it has its branches spread all around the major countries of the world. The early developments ensured that its popularity reached countries like USA and UK. Today, the bike is a major market due to the youth making heavy investments. It is widely popular in India and millions of units have been sold till now. KTM North America Inc. was founded in 1978 headquartered at Ohio, USA.

4 divisions and Expansion

The company soon expanded into different divisions to differentiate the production. The 4 divisions established were:

• KTM Sport motorcycle GmbH, for production of Motorcycles
• KTM Fahrrad GmbH, for production of Bicycles
• KTM Kühler GmbH, for the radiators unit
• KTM Werkzeugbau GmbH, for productions of tools

These divisions meant the company needed more workers for the production. New workers were roped in and the company turnover increased after massive scale manufacturing. There were now different models of bikes and scooters. They were noted and praised by critics for their body and build quality. In the year 1995, it acquired the motorcycle company Husaberg AB which is a Swedish company. White Power Suspension was a Dutch company which was also acquired by KTM. Bajaj Auto which is an Indian automobile manufacturing company brought 14.5% stake in KTM Power Sports AG and by 2013 held almost half stakes of the company by expanding its stake to 47.97%.

Products and Motorsports

Today KTM is well known for its venture in motorsports which has viewership in millions and is widely followed in several countries. The off-road versions which have been released by KTM include Motocross, Enduro, Cross-country, and Free ride. These models are extensively used in motor sports competitions in mountainous terrains.