Piaggio, MV Agusta and Ducati begin work as COVID-19 declines
As parts of Europe begin to see a drop in the number of new COVID-19 cases, some factories are beginning to wake up
AS new cases of COVID-19 begin to either flatten or drop across parts of Europe, the motorcycle industry begins to come out of hibernation as talk of production begins.
While we are not officially out of the COVID-19 pandemic, for many parts of the globe the restrictions are beginning to ease and restrictions on movement are starting to be lifted.
For the motorcycle factories that stretch across almost every European nation, the thought of getting back to work and building bikes is foremost in their minds and they are wasting no time talking about anything else.
Ducati is looking to resume production at the Borgo Panigale plant as of today, 27th April, as the factory outlines a staggered return to work for the staff. To begin with, workshop staff will return to work, followed by engine assembly staff, and finally, the assembly workers will resume their roles.
MV Agusta to is looking set to get back on the shop floor, as the firm sets its sights on increasing production from 5,000 bikes per year to 25,000 in years to come.
The biggest of the European manufacturers, Piaggio Group, which owns Moto Guzzi, Aprilia, and Vespa has worked with their trade union to define a new working protocol to keep the staff safe.
With three of the big players in the European motorcycle market building bikes again, it’s likely that other manufacturers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the restrictions imposed to halt its spread, will also begin to build bikes once more.
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
