But the release of these three new bikes doesn't mean Ducati is sending its R&D team on vacation. Quite the contrary, the company says it plans to launch three versions of one new model in each of the next three years, for a total of 11 new bikes by 2011.
"We are and we always will be a company based on product," Ducati CEO and Managing Director Gabriele Del Torchio proclaimed as the bikes were unveiled.
A Return to Profit
Del Torchio says 2007 has Ducati ?winning again.? The company gained a MotoGP World Championship, is on schedule to sell more than 40,000 units, and has made enough improvements to its business operation to achieve a return to profitability.
Ducati revenue for the nine months ended September 30 totaled 322.2 million euro, up 43.8% from revenue of 224.2 million euro recorded for the same nine-month period in 2006. Net Profit totaled 17.6 million euro, up considerably from a net loss of 4.6 million euro recorded for the same period the previous year.
"All the indicators in the first nine months are growth positive: a trend that confirms our strategic decisions," says Enrico D?Onofrio, Ducati CFO. "In particular the return to a positive net financial position permits us to proceed with the development of new product and an enhanced dealer network with new determination. In the last quarter of this year we will concentrate on controlling the quality and the volume of the dealer inventory as we prepare the market for 2008."
Del Torchio says Ducati intends to further explain its strategy for 2008-2010 in December.
