On September 8, 2026, Bloomberg reported that German automotive giant Volkswagen is contemplating the sale of Ducati, the esteemed Italian high-performance motorcycle brand under its Audi subsidiary, as a strategic move within its broader business restructuring efforts. Audi's CEO, Gernot Döllner, disclosed that Ducati is among the 600 entities out of roughly 2,000 businesses under Volkswagen's purview currently undergoing evaluation. However, he emphasized that no definitive decision to sell has been reached at this juncture. Ducati, celebrated for crafting iconic "superbikes" like the Panigale, is valued by industry experts at approximately €1.25 billion. Volkswagen's initiative to streamline its operations is aimed at mitigating financial strains and navigating market hurdles associated with the shift towards electrification, ultimately bolstering its competitive edge. Notably, Volkswagen's supervisory board had previously endorsed a restructuring blueprint mandating a reduction of its business and investment portfolio by roughly one-third.