KTM Sportmotorcycle AG

KTM Sportmotorcycle AG, international holding company in the motorcycle industry with headquarters at Mattighofen, Upper Austria. Originated in 1934 as a mechanics shop at Mattighofen owned and operated by Hans Trunkenpolz; the firm became agent for the sale of DKW motorcycles in 1937 and assumed the trade name Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen (KTM) in 1950; in the period 1960-88 KTM mostly produced motor scooters and motor-assisted bicycles, but started engine production in 1970. Reorganised after an insolvency in 1991/92, the company specialised in the production of offroad motorcycles for sports events (world market share approx. 8%) and was soon in a position to acquire subsidiaries abroad (including WP Suspension B. V. and Husaberg Motor AB); listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange 1996-99, staff of 647, achieved world-wide sales in the order of ATS 1.5 billion in 1997/98.