Ducati to cooperate with AMG
"We are especially proud to have AMG as one of our sponsors for the Ducati MotoGP Team. I am also very pleased that our joint marketing activities are well under way. In AMG we have found a partner who perfectly reflects our brand values of high performance, motorsport, excitement and our sense of unmistakable style and design," said Gabriele del Torchio, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
"I am very pleased that we are able to announce our strategic cooperation with Ducati today. AMG and Ducati ideally complement each other, as both companies share the same values: racing as the driving passion, and high performance plus exclusivity as the central brand messages of both AMG and Ducati. This long-term cooperation will help us to jointly access new customer groups," said Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
The first visible results of the cooperation between Ducati and AMG will be joint marketing and sponsoring activities. AMG will support the Ducati MotoGP Team as the Official Car Partner from 2011, for example. During selected AMG events, participants will be able to test ride Ducati motorcycles, and Ducati customers will similarly have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the latest AMG high-performance cars at events.
Ducati President & CEO Gabriele del Torchio with Mercedes-AMG CEO Ola Källenius
Ducati and AMG: racing, high performance, exclusivity
Founded in 1926, Ducati has been producing sport-inspired motorcycles since 1946. Their motorcycles are characterised by “Desmodromic” performance engines, innovative design and avant-garde technology. Covering several market segments, Ducati's range of motorcycles are divided into model families which include: Desmosedici RR, Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada, Streetfighter, Superbike and the brand new Diavel. These authentic icons of Made in Italy” are sold in over 80 countries around the world, with concentration on the European, North-American and Japanese markets. Ducati is currently involved in both the World Superbike Championship and, with an official team, the World MotoGP Championship. In Superbike Ducati has won 16 of the last 20 Manufacturers' titles as well as 13 Riders' titles.
Ducati have participated in MotoGP since 2003, and took both the Manufacturers' and Riders' titles in 2007. AMG was founded in 1967, and is seen as a pioneer in motorsports and performance enhancement. In the following years AMG developed from a two-man operation to a company of worldwide renown. Numerous racing victories, technological tours de force born of the racetrack, unique high-performance cars and an unmistakable brand experience such as e.g. the AMG Driving Academy have come together to form a decidedly exclusive brand image. Founded in 1999, Mercedes-AMG GmbH is an autonomous vehicle manufacturer. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, AMG is responsible for all development processes relating to the chassis, engine, suspension, brakes, electronics, aerodynamics, interior and design, right up to final approval of the complete AMG car. Mercedes-AMG GmbH also manages all marketing and sales related aspects in its own right.
Ducati President & CEO Gabriele del Torchio posing with Mercedes-AMG CEO Ola Källenius
The SLS AMG presented in 2009 is an automotive masterpiece from Mercedes-AMG GmbH. As the first automobile independently developed by the company, the super-sports car is the highlight in AMG's more than 40-year history. It not only takes AMG into a new era, but also demonstrates development expertise of the very highest order. AMG's special focus is on the heart of any automobile, namely the engine. The company's core expertise in developing and producing powerful engines has been assiduously perfected right from the start. In the ultra-modern AMG engine shop, highly qualified specialists follow the traditional "One man - one engine" philosophy to produce high-performance AMG V8 and V12 engines to the highest quality standards.
