KTM & Kiska: Is KTM Parting Ways with Its Controversial Design?

The KTM Group and design agency Kiska are set to go their separate ways. After decades of economic interdependence and collaboration, many motorcycle enthusiasts are now asking: Is KTM also moving away from the strongly polarizing Kiska design?

What was produced in Innviertel was visually crafted over the years in Anif near Salzburg. Kiska shaped the appearance of KTM from motorcycles to apparel and even the X-Bow – and this for decades.

This was no ordinary agency relationship. The KTM Group was both a stakeholder and the primary client of Kiska. At its peak, Pierer Mobility AG held a 50 percent share, which was later reduced to 20 percent visible in the company register - now Pierer Mobility AG operates as Bajaj Mobility AG.

Now the ownership relationship has been completely dissolved. "Following the repurchase of the last remaining shares from the KTM Group by the shareholders, the company from Anif is once again fully independent," says Kiska CEO Julian Herget.

As announced in early February, KTM is planning to establish its own in-house design team in Salzburg.

KTM confirmed that as part of its focus on its core business in the motorcycle market, the design process is being integrated more closely with the company. A new design center is set to consolidate innovation expertise and work on product innovations, separate from the development center in Mattighofen.

According to Kiska's CEO, the collaboration with Kiska will nevertheless continue: "There is a multi-year agreement that ensures KTM access to resources and secures revenue for us," emphasizes Herget.

Loxone GmbH is taking over the shares from the KTM Group. Loxone will hold 71 percent of Kiska, while 29 percent will remain with the management and executives.

The technology company from Kollerschlag saved Kiska after the KTM insolvency with a capital injection of five million euros. According to the balance sheet for the fiscal year 2024/2025 (as of March), this enabled the agency to overcome the economic repercussions.

The close dependency on KTM proved problematic, according to Herget: "The heavy reliance on KTM was unhealthy for Kiska."

As a result of the KTM insolvency, 42 employees had to be laid off. Currently, the agency employs 160 people. Some of the laid-off colleagues have since returned.

The fiscal year 2024/2025 ended in March 2025 with a deficit of 4.6 million euros. Revenue was 26 million euros. Approximately 3.5 million euros in receivables – about 70 percent – had to be written off due to the KTM insolvency.

Kiska aims to expand its presence in the future, maintaining a focus on two- and four-wheel vehicles, with an eye on Asia and the USA.

According to reports, the new clients include:

• AIMA Technology Group (China) in the e-bike and electric scooter sector
• Three new providers in the motorcycle and premium e-scooter segment in India and China
• A leading powersports provider in the USA
• A prominent client in the agriculture sector in the USA

Additionally, Kiska is responsible for the relaunch of the traditional brand Weck as well as the redevelopment of the Vitrea brand (rehabilitation group). They are also involved in brand and design development for majority stakeholder Loxone.

"We will never make ourselves dependent on a single client again," says Herget.

For 2026/2027, Kiska plans a growth of between 15 and 20 percent. Additionally, ten new employees are to be hired—a commitment to the Anif location.

For many years, the distinctive, angular KTM design was closely associated with the name Kiska. Few brands in the motorcycle segment have so consistently relied on a recognizable design language.

At the same time, the design was frequently a topic of controversy in the market. While many fans saw the aggressive lines as an expression of the READY-TO-RACE DNA, others perceived the styling as deliberately provocative.

In the near future, we'll likely continue to see a strong Kiska influence in KTM's design, as suggested by recent prototype sightings. However, with the establishment of its own design center, KTM will increasingly steer the design process internally. In the medium term, a new design language for the core brand could also emerge. Whether the well-known design line will continue for Husqvarna and GasGas remains uncertain.

One thing is certain: the structural separation is complete – however, the collaboration as a client is (for now) set to continue.