MV Agusta Joins Forces With Chinese Giant Loncin

Smaller-displacement MV Agusta models are on the way.

MV Agusta is in the process of a radical evolution. July 25, Timur Sardarov, MV Agusta Motor CEO, signed an agreement with Yong Gao, chairman and president of Loncin Motor Company, establishing an alliance between the two companies with the purpose of giving life to a new generation of bikes in the 350cc and 500cc displacement classes.

Analysts of the two companies have identified this range of displacement classes as the most promising in terms of future evolution of the global motorcycle market. MV Agusta will design and develop four models that will be put on sale by both MV Agusta and by VOGE, the upper-class brand of Loncin. Loncin manufactures small engines, agricultural equipment, and motorcycles. The MV Agusta versions will compete in the upper class of both displacement segments.

Timur Sardarov, MV Agusta CEO, and Yong Gao, Loncin Motor Company president, sign an agreement which will see the development of 350 and 500cc models for both MV Agusta and VOGE.MV Agusta

The new 350–500 MV Agusta models will be conceived, manufactured, and refined to stand up to the traditional exclusiveness of the MV Agusta make. The new 350cc and 500cc engines will be derived from the 675–800cc MV Agusta three-cylinder unit, one of the strongest performers in the class. The MV Agusta-Loncin agreement opens production growth for MV Agusta and of product refinement for Loncin.

Both companies expect to receive benefits, but MV Agusta will have the opportunity to expand its productivity to levels totally unknown until now. Rumors about a possible upturn in the MV Agusta standing were vaguely circulating, and in a conversation I had with Sardarov he only confirmed they were having talks about a possible consulting agreement with Chinese companies, but this goes way past that.

How things with Loncin will further evolve is not known at this date. MV Agusta has established a number of partnerships with other companies which poured big money into agreements, but then pulled out of the Schiranna factory, returning it to the Castiglioni family for a symbolic $1. This also happened with Harley-Davidson in 2009.

Is there a meaning in this sequence of events? Stay tuned. The new MV Agusta/Loncin 350 and 500cc models are expected to arrive in the market by the end of 2021.

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