KTM expected to Cut more Jobs after relocating design Operations
After narrowly avoiding insolvency with financial backing from Bajaj Auto, KTM continues its structural reorganisation. The rescue package made it clear that Bajaj would gain greater strategic influence, and further internal adjustments now appear inevitable.
As part of the restructuring process, KTM plans to relocate significant parts of its design headquarters from Mattighofen to Salzburg. Depending on how the transition is implemented, this could potentially affect between 500 and 3,000 positions.
Long-time design partner KISKA is expected to remain involved with the brand, at least during an extended transition phase. Ongoing projects are still under development, and KTM’s internal design department will require time before fully assuming control of all product planning responsibilities.
However, cooperation with KISKA will continue on a partnership basis. Bajaj has reportedly sold its shares in KISKA to Loxone, a company with its own design and innovation focus.
KTM CEO Gottfried Neumeister confirmed the strategic shift toward greater in-house control while maintaining selective collaboration with external agencies.
As Neumeister stated.
"We are moving away from outsourcing the entire product planning process; instead, the majority of our projects will remain in-house. The advantage of agencies such as KISKA and others is that they have a very broad customer portfolio, where designers have to find different answers for different tasks, thus promoting a creative exchange of ideas. By involving such agencies, we avoid becoming too insular. At the same time, our own departments also have a reference point in terms of ideas, speed and efficiency."
