Bologna, September 7, 2026 – “We asked the government, and I must say I am satisfied with the response both publicly and privately given to me by Minister Adolfo Urso, that any potential buyer of Ducati will be scrutinized with great care. We are not talking about today’s Ducati, we are talking about tomorrow’s Ducati: Volkswagen must be clearly asked what it wants to do, while the government must use all legal and industrial policy tools so that those who own Ducati continue to give momentum and productive industrial activity in Italy.”
Michele de Pascale, governor of Emilia-Romagna, confirms concerns about a possible sale of the stake held by the German giant Volkswagen (which controls Lamborghini and Ducati through Audi) and renews the appeal to the government, after having requested a dedicated table from the Ministry of Made in Italy.
De Pascale’s words
“Ducati is a great excellence – emphasizes the governor –: it has an incredible performance, it is one of the brightest symbols of Made in Italy in the world. There are no open contingent issues or elements, on the contrary: Volkswagen tries to solve problems even by divesting a company of extraordinary value like Ducati.”
“When we talk about Ducati engineering we talk about David versus Goliath – insists the former mayor of Ravenna –, we talk about a team that with infinitely fewer resources than competitors in the last ten years has taught the world how a competition is run, how motorcycles are made. We are talking about a symbol of Italian engineering in the world and it must be Italian.”
Rumors of a possible sale
According to Volkswagen’s new plan looking towards 2030, Ducati could be sold in whole or in part. For this reason, the Region has requested to activate “a Roundtable on the future prospects of Ducati Motor Holding,” to safeguard “one of the most well-known and prestigious expressions of Made in Italy in the world,” an integral part “of the industrial history of Bologna and Emilia-Romagna” as well as “one of the symbols of our Motor Valley.”
The German car manufacturer has approved a document aimed at cutting costs to respond to the aggressive competition from Chinese manufacturers in Europe and China. In addition to cutting 100,000 employees and an unprecedented reduction in staff in recent history, the strategy involves reducing Volkswagen’s portfolio of holdings by about one third. Management would have specifically identified as sellable, in whole or in part, 750 shares of the more than 2,000 held by Volkswagen. The list would include Europcar, destined for stock market listing, and Ducati, which could be sold in whole or in part: the German group would have already begun notifying investment banks of management’s intention to enhance the Borgo Panigale motorcycle manufacturer.
Read more “Raped by a colleague during the work shift.” A 57-year-old under house arrest
“The company is healthy, solid and is living the best moment of its history – said Ducati’s CEO, Claudio Domenicali –. We have no certain information to comment on, so we are unable to provide further comments.”
Minister Urso’s words
Domenicali then received a call from Urso: “We agreed on a path that will allow us to safeguard such an important company, a symbol of Made in Italy, of which we are all proud – the minister said –. On this occasion, which also confirms the value of the company, we will make the best use of the tools at our disposal, so that this national asset can continue to represent us with its extraordinary sporting, technological and market successes, an example of excellence and quality.”
The attractiveness plan for Emilia-Romagna
The Region meanwhile continues to focus on territorial attractiveness and presents in Viale Aldo Moro support for seven new projects presented by six companies and international groups. “Six very important projects that combine employment growth, research and development, obviously major transitions we are facing: from digital to, obviously, energy – comments de Pascale together with Vincenzo Colla, vice president of the Region –. And the message of a Region that wants to continue to be the spearhead of Italian manufacturing and the Italian economy. We know that for companies that invest, hire and innovate, there are others struggling. We do not accept any simplified narrative: neither the one that describes the entire economic fabric as in crisis, nor the one that sees honey dripping from the walls and everything working well. We are living both situations: those who have opportunities to grow and relaunch and must be supported, especially in research projects, and those who are simultaneously experiencing difficulties and must be supported in crisis.”
Specifically, the Region puts on the table almost 10 million euros to support as mentioned 7 new programs presented by 6 companies and international groups: expected investments of over 108 million and 150 new hires. Projects with high technological content and strong employment, environmental and supply chain impacts are underway, in key sectors such as advanced logistics, artificial intelligence, industrial automation, sustainable mobility, wellness and energy generation. From Technogym to Dinova, from E80 Group to Hypertec Solutions, from Altmann to Vm Motori.
“Today Italian manufacturing and European manufacturing compete if they are in an innovative segment – conclude de Pascale and Colla –, if they are in a high value-added segment, high research value, if they are able to do what others are not yet even able to imagine. And this is somewhat the secret of these initiatives, of these promotion tools we have. It is particularly striking: this morning we started the day meeting about fifty university students from the four universities of our region who compete in automotive and nautical university competitions and challenges. The key is always the same: companies that invest in innovation and research and universities that promote degree courses and ‘learning by doing’. This is our challenge and it is the challenge that Emilia-Romagna wants to play with great determination.”
Read more The former rider Franco Uncini and the future of Ducati: “Italian pride and strong brand”
