Swedish motorcycle manufacturer, Husqvarna, has been selling its street motorcycles in KTM dealerships around the country for nearly a month now. Consisting of 3 models, Husqvarna’s lineup is composed of the Vitpilen 401, Svartpilen 401, and the Svartpilen 200. Unlike its sister company, KTM’s edgy and sharp two-wheelers, Husqvarna’s lineup gives a more retro and sophisticated aesthetic to would-be customers.
That said, the Ayala Corporation has finally made it official that they will be taking the helm of Husqvarna’s operations in the country. This comes as no surprise, as the conglomerate in 2017, inaugurated the first KTM manufacturing plant in the country, located in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Moving forward, Husqvarna’s 401 and 200 bikes will be manufactured in the same facility as their Austrian counterparts.
For those of you not in the know, KTM currently outsources production of some of its most popular street and adventure motorcycles to the manufacturing plant in Sta. Rosa. Best selling machines such as the 390 Duke, RC 390, RC 200, 200 Duke, 790 Duke, and 790 Adventure are all proudly assembled in the Philippines. These bikes are likewise in the local market, and exported to nearby neighboring countries.
Even months prior to the launch of the Husqvarna Vitpilen and Svartpilen range of motorcycles in the country, enthusiasts had long been hoping for these bikes to make it to Philippine shores. This is actually unsurprising, given the fact that the KTM 390 Duke—the platform on which the Huskies are based on—has been such a strong contender in the entry level big bike market in the country. Similarly, the Husqvarna 401s share nearly all the same underpinnings as the good old KTM, save for donning a more retro-themed attire. For reference, the Svarpilen 200 fetches a retail price of just P175,000. It’s bigger sibling, the Svartpilen 401 goes for P295,000, while the sportier Vitpilen 401 fetches P315,000.