Husqvarna dirt bikes are built by Husqvarna Motorcycles, a brand owned by Pierer Mobility AG (KTM’s parent).
If you came here asking who owns Husqvarna dirt bikes, here’s the short lay of the land: the bikes wear the Husqvarna Motorcycles badge, and that motorcycle company sits inside Pierer Mobility AG alongside KTM and GASGAS. The trademark “Husqvarna” itself is Swedish and licensed to the motorcycle arm. That split—brand license on one side, motorcycle manufacturer on the other—is why riders hear both names.
Ownership Of Husqvarna Dirt Bikes — Brand, Company, Licensing
“Owner” can mean two things in this space. One is the corporate parent that controls the motorcycle maker. The other is the legal holder of the Husqvarna wordmark and symbol. Today, Pierer Mobility AG owns Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH, the company that designs and builds dirt bikes. The Husqvarna name belongs to Husqvarna AB in Sweden and is used by the motorcycle company under a license. That’s the clean way to understand who does what.
Ownership Timeline At A Glance
This quick table lets you scan the key handovers and where bikes were made during each stretch.
| Years | Owner / Controller | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-1987 | Husqvarna (Sweden) | Motorcycle division inside the original Swedish company. |
| 1987–2007 | Cagiva / MV Agusta | Production moved to Varese, Italy; Swedish team formed Husaberg. |
| 2007–2013 | BMW Motorrad | Brand ran from Italy under BMW ownership. |
| 2013 | Pierer Industrie | BMW sold Husqvarna Motorcycles to Pierer’s group. |
| 2013–present | Pierer Mobility AG / KTM AG | Husqvarna Motorcycles based in Austria; shared backbone with KTM. |
| Trademark | Husqvarna AB (Sweden) | “Husqvarna” name licensed to the motorcycle company. |
| Sister brands | KTM, GASGAS, WP | All under the Pierer umbrella for bikes and components. |
Who Owns Husqvarna Dirt Bikes? — Details And Timeline
The present-day owner of the motorcycle company is Pierer Mobility AG, an Austrian group best known for KTM. Pierer Mobility sits above KTM AG, and KTM AG holds Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH along with other subsidiaries. That structure is why you see parts commonality, shared dealer tools, and racing resources across KTM, Husqvarna, and GASGAS.
How We Got Here
Husqvarna’s motorcycle arm began in Sweden, then was sold to Italy’s Cagiva in 1987. Two decades later, BMW bought the brand in 2007. In 2013, BMW signed a deal to sell Husqvarna Motorcycles to Pierer, the group tied to KTM (BMW press release). Soon after, production and development settled in Austria, and the lineup was rebuilt around off-road and enduro strengths, plus select street models.
What “Licensed Name” Means In Practice
Husqvarna AB—the Swedish outdoor-equipment company behind chainsaws and lawn gear—owns the Husqvarna wordmark. The motorcycle business uses that name under a formal license acknowledged in Husqvarna’s imprint. In plain terms, the bikes and racing program are run by Pierer’s motorcycle group, while the Swedish company oversees the trademark and its use across different product lines. That’s why you might see the same crown-sight logo on a chainsaw and a motocross gate banner, yet the companies operate separately.
Where Husqvarna Dirt Bikes Are Designed And Built
The modern off-road range is engineered and assembled within the KTM/Husqvarna network centered in Austria, with regional sites and supplier plants. Many core chassis parts, engines, and WP suspension components share platforms with KTM models, then receive Husqvarna-specific tuning, ergonomics, and bodywork. This approach speeds updates and keeps parts flowing through the combined dealer network. It also helps shoppers compare KTM, Husqvarna, and GASGAS trims with less confusion.
How Ownership Affects Models, Parts, And Warranty
- Model strategy: Motocross “TC/FC” and enduro “TE/FE” lines mirror KTM’s SX/EXC family, while keeping distinct ergonomics, mapping, and plastics.
- Parts ecosystem: Shared architecture means wide availability for wear items, hard parts, and upgrades through common channels.
- Service & warranty: Dealers run on the same digital backbone as KTM, which streamlines diagnostics, recalls, and campaign work.
Why Riders Mix Up “Husqvarna Group” And “Husqvarna Motorcycles”
The names look identical and the logos match, yet the companies are separate. Husqvarna Group AB (Sweden) sells outdoor power equipment. Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH (Austria) builds dirt bikes and street machines under Pierer Mobility. The link between them is the licensed brand. Once you know that split, ownership questions become easy to answer.
How The KTM Connection Shapes Husqvarna Dirt Bikes
Shared engineering brings quick tech flow. When KTM debuts a new frame or engine family, Husqvarna models usually move in step, then add their own seat height, bodywork, and setup tweaks. WP Suspension sits inside the same umbrella, which keeps forks and shocks aligned with the latest off-road trends and racing feedback.
Racing And Development Pipeline
Factory racing feeds development: lessons from MXGP, Supercross, and enduro championships roll into showroom bikes. The corporate setup gives Husqvarna access to data, test riders, and parts across the full group. That’s a large reason why updates land in predictable yearly cycles.
What Past Owners Mean For Today’s Bikes
History explains model personality. The Italian era brought a distinct chassis flavor and styling. The BMW years added street projects and fuel-injection pushes that still echo in tuning know-how. Under Pierer’s roof, Husqvarna returned to its off-road core, but with modern manufacturing scale and a deep supplier bench.
Key Milestones That Settled Ownership
- 1987: Motorcycle division sold to Cagiva; production moved to Italy.
- 2007: BMW took over the brand and kept Varese as the base.
- 2013: BMW signed a sale agreement with Pierer’s group; the brand joined the KTM family that year.
- Today: Husqvarna Motorcycles operates inside Pierer Mobility AG with KTM and GASGAS.
What Buyers Should Know Before Picking A Husqvarna Dirt Bike
Ownership details matter when you’re shopping. They point to parts backing, update cadence, resale value, and racing depth. Here’s a fast buyer-centric view of the Pierer era.
Pierer-Era Strengths For Owners
- Dealer reach: Shared networks expand coverage in many regions.
- Parts flow: Common platforms keep shelves stocked and ordering simple.
- Tech cadence: Frequent refreshes and consistent ECU updates.
- Racing link: Setup tips and maps often mirror factory learnings.
Considerations To Weigh
- Model overlap: KTM and GASGAS equivalents exist; shop by fit and mapping, not just badge.
- Seat height and ergos: Husqvarna often runs a tad lower; always test for fit.
- Aftermarket fit: Check part numbers by year.
Ownership Effects On Parts, Pricing, And Resale
With shared components across three brands, pricing reflects group scale. That can help with affordability on wear items and upgrades. Resale tends to track model refresh cycles: a major frame or engine update resets demand, and clean, stock bikes with service records hold value best.
What Changed Across Owners
Here’s a simple table showing how ownership eras map to what riders feel day to day.
| Aspect | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| HQ & assembly | Italy under Cagiva/BMW | Austria within Pierer’s network |
| Parts access | Brand-specific pipelines | Shared with KTM/GASGAS + WP |
| Model cadence | Slower refresh pace | Yearly updates tied to group launches |
| Dealer tools | Separate systems | Common digital backbone |
| Racing feed | Smaller pool | Group-wide data and components |
| Brand styling | Italian cues | Modern Nordic-style graphics |
| Resale trend | Model-by-model | Stable with clear refresh waves |
KTM, GASGAS, And Husqvarna — What’s Shared And What’s Not
Group sharing doesn’t mean the bikes feel identical. Frames, engines, and WP components often come from common families, yet mapping, airbox layout, subframes, and rider triangle give each brand a distinct feel. If you cross-shop an FC 250 with a KTM 250 SX-F, you’ll notice the seat shape, bar position, and throttle response set the tone. GASGAS brings a lighter trim with its own spec choices. The owner story helps explain why parts interchange exists, but the riding experience still carries clear brand character.
Dealer Experience And Warranty Nuances
Most mixed-brand dealers have trained techs and shared diagnostic tools. That means warranty claims move quickly and software flashes roll out across brands on the same cadence. It also means you can often source a filter, lever, or gasket that fits from a sister model when shelves are thin. For long trips, that flexibility is handy.
Source Notes
Two items lock this in. BMW announced the sale of Husqvarna Motorcycles to Pierer in January 2013, which moved the brand under the KTM umbrella (official release). Husqvarna’s own imprint also states that the Husqvarna marks are used under license from Husqvarna AB in Sweden. With those documents, the answer to “who owns Husqvarna dirt bikes?” is clear and current.
Common Myths About Who Owns Husqvarna Dirt Bikes
“Husqvarna is still Swedish.” The brand’s roots are Swedish, and the name is licensed from Sweden, but the motorcycle company behind today’s dirt bikes sits in Austria under Pierer Mobility.
“BMW still runs Husqvarna.” BMW owned the brand from 2007 to 2013, then sold it to Pierer’s group. That sale closed in 2013, and the lineup has been rebuilt since.
“KTM swallowed Husqvarna whole.” The companies share a parent and engineering resources, yet Husqvarna keeps its own spec choices and model codes. If you prefer the ergos, you’ll feel the difference right away.
Why The Answer Helps Buyers And Owners
When you know who owns Husqvarna dirt bikes, you can read model years with clarity, plan parts sourcing, and track when big refreshes land. You can also judge resale value better, since group-wide frame or engine changes ripple through prices. If you were searching for “who owns Husqvarna dirt bikes?” to make a purchase call, this context lets you decide with less guesswork.
How To Read The Corporate Structure Without Getting Lost
Think of it as layers. At the top sits Pierer Mobility AG. Under that, KTM AG runs motorcycle operations. Inside KTM AG live brands and units, including Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH and WP Suspension. The Husqvarna name and crown-sight logo are owned by the Swedish Husqvarna AB and licensed to the motorcycle side. With that picture, “who owns Husqvarna dirt bikes” stops being a puzzle.
Bottom Line On Ownership
Husqvarna dirt bikes come from Husqvarna Motorcycles, held by Pierer Mobility AG alongside KTM and GASGAS. The Husqvarna name is Swedish and used under license. For riders, that mix delivers steady updates, deep parts bins, and a dealer map that keeps you riding. Service access is wide across regions. Riders benefit from steady updates.