Volkswagen takes over retail operations of Ducati in SA

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has officially taken over the local retail operations of the Ducati Brand in South Africa, effective 1 January 2025. 

Ducati was announced as the fourth brand in Volkswagen Group Africa’s brand portfolio in South Africa at the annual media event hosted in Kariega. The addition of Ducati diversifies VWGA’s brand portfolio, including Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. 

VWGA’s responsibilities include managing retail operations and importing Ducati motorcycles, as well as parts and accessories, for the South African market. 

Simphiwe Nghona, Head Of sales and Marketing at VWGA, said: “Ducati is a premium international motorcycle brand with a strong and proud heritage. Over the years, it has built a loyal and passionate client base in South Africa, which our company is excited about and looking forward to servicing from now on. We are confident that the current and future Ducati clients will benefit from our established sales and after-sales processes, as well as our dealer network.”

VWGA is planning to grow the Ducati brand and broaden the client reach by integrating the Ducati brand into three dealer sites, which will be located in Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal.  The current approved retailer in Gauteng has been retained for the region. A new retailer in Cape Town, an existing Audi dealer, has been appointed. The plans to appoint a retailer in Durban for KZN are in progress.

Nghona added: “We have set an ambitious growth target for the brand in its first two years of full operations under the VWGA stewardship. We aim to achieve a double-digit market share in South Africa by the end of 2026 from the current market share base. The brand growth will be boosted by a range of exciting models introduced in South Africa over the next two years.” 

VWGA has appointed Tertius Cronje to head the Ducati Brand in South Africa. Cronje has 24 years of experience in the automotive retail business gained in the local and international markets. His experience includes 10 years in the motorcycle retail business.

“South Africa is the ideal environment for our motorcycle range, either for track use, twisty roads or gravel. I am sure that this, together with the passion and professionalism of our new partner, Volkswagen Group Africa, will allow us to provide great experiences to our Ducatisti, allowing us to expand our presence in the country and get closer to their needs, also considering that in the country there are some of the greatest collectors in the world of special cars and bikes,” commented Francesco Milicia, Director: Global Sales & After Sales at Ducati Motor Holding Spa.