Ducati to build Thai factory...now confirmed

[corey]

You get what you pay for. Period.
A $5 shirt isn't as nice as a $50 shirt. You might be able to get 10 of them, but in the end you still just have a drawer full of crappy $5 shirts.

I doubt that any cost savings Ducati may see from it's new plant in Thailand would be transferred to the end-user (us).
We'd be paying the same constantly-inflating rate for a lesser product.

Made in Italy still means something.
Made in Thailand doesn't.

[derby]

You get what you pay for. Period.
A $5 shirt isn't as nice as a $50 shirt. You might be able to get 10 of them, but in the end you still just have a drawer full of crappy $5 shirts.

1) sometimes you just need a $5 shirt.

2) how much better is a $300 shirt than a $50 shirt?

[Triple J]

2) how much better is a $300 shirt than a $50 shirt?

Not enough better! 

I agree with the original sentiment though. Bana Republic shirts are much nicer than Old Navy ones. 

[ab]

Remember china doesn't have to figure out how to markets its crap, walmart does it for them for free at the expense of jobs jobs jobs.  Why do you think manufacturing shut down here?  The likes of f'n walmart and consumers who are ignorant to understand the ramifications of that.  Let's not talk about walmart and how it is a burden to cities in terms of health care etc and getting free infrastructure $ help to come in.  Look at the big picture ppl and not the so called savings u think u are getting but r paying for it in other ways.

Oh as for Ducati brand name value, it will  for sure  go down due to the Thai factory.  F that!

[Drunken Monkey]

Positives: Asian market bikes tend to be smaller displacement, so there's a chance for a lighter, small displacement bike out of this (supermono?)

Negatives: Dilutes the brand.

Neutral: Build Quality. It's final assembly... If an idiot like me can assemble a Ducati so can some dude in Thailand.

[AfroStar]

Single 250cc Ducati? Honda can make ugly cars, because they sell the heck out of their motorbike line.

[The Architect]

If Ferrari decided to assemble their cars in Thailand would people think differently of the car? 

And Italy doesn't have Walmart they have IberCoop and Super IberCoop, which is pretty much the same thing.  Plenty of China-made stuff there. 

Italy isn't immune to Wal-mart-ization.

A few years ago we visited family.  Stopped for lunch in Bologna.  Ate at a small street side cafe.  The owner served us and we had a pleasant conversation with him.  For $8 per person we ate well.  (I had penna alla vodka with fresh farm bacon, it was amazing and a glass of wine.)  Across the street was a McDonald's.  The line was out the door mostly young people.  A meal (burger, fries and soda) was just over $11.

[akmnstr]

I wonder just what they will make there.  We have mentioned an assembly plant or a new line of bikes for the 3rd world.  Or are they going to start making monsters and superbikes there?  I hate what triumph did by moving its classic line to the orient.  Why by a bonnie replica if it ain't a brit bike.  It's like a factory authorized knock-off. 

[lazylightnin717]

Florence or Firenze?  There are a shitload of Walmarts in Florence, Alabama.

And Italy doesn't have Walmart they have IberCoop and Super IberCoop, which is pretty much the same thing.  Plenty of China-made stuff there.  

Firenze. Can't say that I remember seeing any Ibercoop. Then again, I was studying art and not consumerism. Either way my opinion still stands. Ducati made in Italy makes me proud to own the bike and I'd like to keep it that way.

[Raux]

Walmart tried to move into Germany and were drummed out. I think their sales were so low due to the German mentality of quality over price. Things are expensive here, but damn nice stuff. Walmart couldn't sell a German a cheap piece of crap when the local markets had quality stuff for a slightly higher price.

[ungeheuer]

Walmart couldn't sell a German a cheap piece of crap when the local markets had quality stuff for a slightly higher price they have ALDI to do that already  .

^^ Fixed  .

Remember china doesn't have to figure out how to markets its crap, walmart does it for them for free at the expense of jobs jobs jobs.

China doesnt need to market its crap.  Cheap will always have a ready mass-market.  And I'm not immune either, I can buy cheap crap when I feel that its adequate enough for the price.   My motorcycle purchases however are prompted by... um... tissue other than the hip-pocket nerve. 

[WOLFENSTEIN]

It looks that story is allready over and I am so disappointed and angry. Tradition is something that shouldn't be covered with dollars or euros. After 28 years on bike there are no more brands which could give me that feeling..........you know, that my bike is not one of "millions". This year, we were in Borgo Panigale, visiting Ducati factory and i said to my wife, after we park our two Ducatis on parking lot in front of museum - how many bikes have luck to go on place where they was born ?
Owning a Ducati for me is not just having a bike. It is a lifestyle. When someone is ready to pay for that, he should be treated with respect. My wife which is really in love with her bike says that if this is true, there will be no more Ducatis in our garage. Damned CEO-s and greedy management, who gives them right for selling out brand which has made history. Today is sad day for me, I know many people will just say that I overreact, but in what world do we live? Is there anything what will not sell out for good amount of money? As R.E.M. will say - It's The End Of The World As We Know It

[kopfjäger]

It looks that story is allready over and I am so disappointed and angry. Tradition is something that shouldn't be covered with dollars or euros. After 28 years on bike there are no more brands which could give me that feeling..........you know, that my bike is not one of "millions". This year, we were in Borgo Panigale, visiting Ducati factory and i said to my wife, after we park our two Ducatis on parking lot in front of museum - how many bikes have luck to go on place where they was born ?
Owning a Ducati for me is not just having a bike. It is a lifestyle. When someone is ready to pay for that, he should be treated with respect. My wife which is really in love with her bike says that if this is true, there will be no more Ducatis in our garage. Damned CEO-s and greedy management, who gives them right for selling out brand which has made history. Today is sad day for me, I know many people will just say that I overreact, but in what world do we live? Is there anything what will not sell out for good amount of money? As R.E.M. will say - It's The End Of The World As We Know It

So what will you buy next? Aprilia, MV, NCR.

[WOLFENSTEIN]

So what will you buy next? Aprilia, MV, NCR.

Japanese vehicle without character, made for going from point A to point B. For 6000 Euros. Without modding and spending thousands of Euro on special parts. Plain vehicle. If this is a goal of Ducati management, they did it. Bravo to them. But, you know what ? I am not the only one.

[ducatiz]

Culture is somewhat exportable, which means we can still get the same quality in thai ducatis (smirk) but since the design and engine build will still be in bologna, how can we crticize?