Ducati, renowned for its passionate fanbase and iconic motorcycles, is seeing significant growth in its commercial aftersales business, which has become a vital contributor to its overall revenue.

In fact, the aftersales sector has become so integral to Ducati's operations that the company believes "Ducati India would not be complete without it."

"The amount customers are spending on apparel and accessories per bike has increased. Those visiting our showrooms to purchase bikes are also investing more in authentic Ducati gear," Bipul Chandra, Managing Director (MD) of Ducati India told ETAuto. However, he did not disclose the specific contribution of this business to the overall revenue.

In this context, the brand also emphasized the importance of offering company-branded helmets in the country. "It will be a great addition to the riders’ community," said Chandra.

The Ducati-branded helmets, while not directly produced by the company, will play a key role in strengthening the brand and fostering a deeper connection with customers.

Most helmets sold globally comply with Europe’s Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) standards or the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DoT) regulations. The government, however, mandates that only ISI-approved helmets be sold in the country.

Demand for Big Bikes

Ducati, which imports bikes to India as completely built units (CBUs), said it has observed growing demand from metro cities.

The company operates two production facilities, with products in India primarily sourced from Thailand, and just one model, the Superleggera V4R, imported from Italy.

“There is no immediate plan to open a factory in India, but if the demand arises, we will certainly consider it when necessary,” Chandra said.

Currently, Ducati offers 10 models in India and operates 11 dealerships across major metro cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Chandigarh, and Ahmedabad. An additional dealership is planned for Bangalore.

The company is also working on setting up a workshop-only facility in Goa. While the region has not seen a high volume of buyers, there is a customer base of riders who travel to Goa with their bikes and require service support.

The company plans to launch 14 new models in 2025. “This segment has seen growth, both for us and the industry as a whole. Consumer spending power has increased, and buyers are opting for significantly more expensive bikes compared to five years ago,” Chandra said.

For Ducati, while 2024 marked the best-ever year in terms of sales, it was not the same for revenue and profit. The company saw its best-ever sales volumes in 2023. Chandra attributed the discrepancies to supply chain issues and the phase-out of certain models, with new releases planned for 2025.