Currently reading: Volkswagen considers Ducati sale amid Dieselgate cost-cutting measures

Following various money-saving measures in motorsport, Ducati could be the first Volkswagen Group brand to be sold off to pay off Dieselgate costs

Volkswagen is considering selling motorcycle brand Ducati as the latest part of its cost-cutting and streamlining of operations.

Volkswagen is also reported to have given investment bank Evercore the task of evaluating options for funding its post-Dieselgate strategy shift, reports Reuters.

Amid rising costs from the Dieselgate scandal, Ducati is likely to be sold just five years after it was acquired by Audi.

Volkswagen’s campaign of cost-cutting has long been rumoured to include a manufacturer, following withdrawals from Volkswagen’s WRC campaign and Audi’s withdrawal from WEC and Le Mans.

Other reported cost-cutting measures are the loss of 30,000 jobs within the next few years, and the streamlining of the Volkswagen brand. If sold, Ducati will be the first manufacturer to be trimmed from the Volkswagen Group portfolio.

Competitor firms such as Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha would all likely have an interest in acquiring Ducati.

Autocar is awaiting comment from Volkswagen.

Read more: 

Audi forced to dramatically cut costs after Dieselgate

VW emissions scandal: six things the firm could cut

VW emissions scandal: 30,000 jobs to go at Volkswagen

Audi quits Le Mans and WEC for Formula E

Official: Volkswagen to quit World Rally Championship at end of 2016

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voyager12 18 May 2017

Who would have thought...

that those environmentalists from the much-criticized EPA have so far turned out to be Trump's best weapon against Germany's car export success and the U.S. government's biggest money maker?
Marc 26 April 2017

I'll give them a tenner for

I'll give them a tenner for it.