Ducati to build Thai factory...now confirmed

[spolic]

I didn't read throught the 7 pages so this might have been said: maybe this will increase the re-sale value of the pure blood bikes.


$ saved by ducati will be passed along just like K2 did after moving its Washington state plant to china....not

[Scotzman]

I didn't read throught the 7 pages so this might have been said: maybe this will increase the re-sale value of the pure blood bikes.


$ saved by ducati will be passed along just like K2 did after moving its Washington state plant to china....not

Asked and answered.

[jerryz]

They wont be building any small bike initially it will be monsters and superbikes as thats what the Asian market wants ....come to Thailand and see the numbers of HDs, on the roads its huge ......Ducati come in 4th after The japs big sports bikes and cruisers the BMW ....Triumph come a poor 5th as Ducati  sell 3 bikes to one triumph .Potential growth in these markets is HUGE wheras Europe and USA are saturated and in decline.

Demand In India, Malaysia, Australia ,Phillipines,China  for these bike is massive but high import tarriffs are a problem but making the bikes in ASEAN  makes them 20-50% cheaper once the tariffs are removed....its happened already with cars like the Ford focus before that happened the focus was not competetive in Thailand but now its on sale and is the same price as competitors and doing well.

Kawasaki led the way with the ER6 in Thailand its now a bargain as it sell for same price as USA or Europe , they have sold 30,000 in 4 years when befor they only sold 300 in 2 years and now they are also expanding local big bike production .Honda ,Yamaha ,Susuki ,HD ,KTM and BMW are also following in a smaller way .Expect more in future .....Apprillia would be nice .

Triumph are the losers as they make the bikes in Thailand but screwed up their Asean Import License so the bikes have to be sold as Imports and they are Too expensive by 40% so they sell 300 bikes a year in Thailand when they could easily have sold 3000.

Will Ducati be as stupid /

[ducatiz]

Interview with Gabriele del Torchio

What about Fiat's current issues with the workers unions, which could eventually affect Ducati as well?

Everyone must worry about themselves first and foremost. But our company made the choice to be Italian. We have no intention of leaving this place. Sure, we recently announced an assembly facility in Indonesia, but that isn't a desire to leave here, but rather a matter of balancing tariffs. When we export our products to that geographic region, the tariffs can reach as high as 80% of the product value.
The only way to get around this was to carry out assembly in that region, but the majority of the parts will come from Italy and the design will always be our own. We are also talking about products destined exclusively for that geographic region. Getting back to Fiat, I don't want to compare our situation to that of others, but I will just say that we, like everyone else in the industry, are very sensitive to productivity. We had constructive meetings with the unions, and we want to work together towards greater efficiency and productivity.

Thailand.. Indonesia..  what's the difference?  

[Betty]

Interview with Gabriele del Torchio
Thailand.. Indonesia..  what's the difference?   

I know this was a rhetorical question ... but I would think in terms of build quality the difference would be HUGE.

[He Man]

I know this was a rhetorical question ... but I would think in terms of build quality the difference would be HUGE.

how so? its just outsourcing to another country. Quality Control is still a function of the manufacturer.  Any idiot can bolt a bike up. Who makes the parts is the key.

[Betty]

Perhaps I should have said 'could be HUGE'.

I am far from an expert on these things but as far as I know Thailand now has quite a successful industry based on this sort of thing which provides the Quality Control you speak of. I can't say the same about Indonesia ... so the risk on quality would not be the same I feel.

With regard to 'just outsourcing' I certainly wouldn't want to buy a Ducati that was put together by me.

[ducpainter]

Perhaps I should have said 'could be HUGE'.

I am far from an expert on these things but as far as I know Thailand now has quite a successful industry based on this sort of thing which provides the Quality Control you speak of. I can't say the same about Indonesia ... so the risk on quality would not be the same I feel.

With regard to 'just outsourcing' I certainly wouldn't want to buy a Ducati that was put together by me.

how so? its just outsourcing to another country. Quality Control is still a function of the manufacturer.  Any idiot can bolt a bike up. Who makes the parts is the key.

                                                     
I wouldn't buy one put together by He Man...he's not an idiot...he's learning to be an engineer and they should never pick up tools, but stick to pencils and slide rules.                                                       

On the other hand I believe a person in Thailand, or Indonesia can be trained to do assembly as well as some one in Italy.

[Vindingo]

I wonder how long "products destined exclusively for that geographic region" will last once they figure out how much more $$$ they save?

First it is products destined exclusively for that geographic region, then it is small displacement monsters...  next thing you know only SBKs will be made in Bologna. 

[scduc]

The problem with all manufacturing, is that there will always be countries with lower standards of living. It happen with Mexico and will eventually happen to China. these countries have gazillions of people who have nothing and will do anything to get ahead. Once they actually taste the good life, then they want more and eventually they will want higher wages and companies will have to move production again. You can actually see it here in the USA. Many people who made great wages for many years are now willing to work for portions of what they used to.

[ducatiz]

I know this was a rhetorical question ... but I would think in terms of build quality the difference would be HUGE.

i was rolling my eyes because i think the translation is wrong.

[ungeheuer]

I wonder how long "products destined exclusively for that geographic region" will last once they figure out how much more $$$ they save?

First it is products destined exclusively for that geographic region, then it is small displacement monsters...  next thing you know only SBKs will be made in Bologna. 

^^ Exactly.  Thin edge of the wedge..... "The market accepted that.... Now lets take it up (down?) another level....". 

[jerryz]

Also today USA Caterpiller  CAT announced they will be constructing a factory in Thailand to open 2012 to build earth moving equipment for SE asian markets so they can compete with local producers Komatsu,Hitachi,Daewoo and Kubota who dominate these markets.

[mitt]

All emerging economies are not equal with respect to quality - it isn't "just up to the manufacturer", regardless of what the business magazines say.

The host countries culture (honesty, work ethic), education (literacy, language), and infrastructure (factory tool and equipment support, security, logistics)  all play a part and I am sure there are more aspects as well. 

mitt

[Vindingo]

All emerging economies are not equal with respect to quality - it isn't "just up to the manufacturer", regardless of what the business magazines say.

The host countries culture (honesty, work ethic)...snip

So, in the future people will be able to get Duc parts in August?