KTM & Kiska: Is KTM Breaking Away from the Controversial Design?

The KTM Group and design agency Kiska are parting ways. After decades of economic dependency and collaboration, many motorcycle enthusiasts are asking: Is KTM also distancing itself from the highly polarizing Kiska design?

What was produced in the Innviertel region was visually crafted over the years in Anif near Salzburg. Kiska shaped the look of KTM, from motorcycles to apparel and even the X-Bow—and did so for decades.

This was no ordinary agency relationship. The KTM Group was both a stakeholder in Kiska and its primary client. At its peak, Pierer Mobility AG held 50 percent of the shares, with 20 percent of the shares still recorded in the company register until recently—now Pierer Mobility AG operates as Bajaj Mobility AG.

The ownership relationship has now been completely dissolved. "After the shareholders repurchased the last remaining shares from the KTM Group, the company from Anif is once again operating fully independently," 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 focusing on its core business in the motorcycle market, it is bringing the design process closer to the company. A new design center is intended 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 continue: "There is a multi-year agreement that ensures KTM access to resources and secures revenue for us," emphasizes Herget.

Loxone GmbH takes over the shares from the KTM Group. Loxone will hold 71 percent of Kiska, with 29 percent remaining with the management and executives.

The technology company from Kollerschlag saved Kiska with a capital injection of five million euros following the KTM insolvency. According to the balance sheet for the fiscal year 2024/2025 (as of March), the agency was able to mitigate the economic impact.

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

In the wake 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—around 70 percent—had to be written off due to the KTM insolvency.

Kiska aims to broaden its scope in the future. The focus remains 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-bikes and electric scooters sector
• Three new providers in the motorcycle and premium e-scooter segment in India and China
• A leading powersport provider in the USA
• A notable client in the agriculture sector in the USA

Furthermore, Kiska is responsible for the relaunch of the traditional brand Weck and the development of the new Vitrea brand (rehabilitation corporation). They are also active in brand and design development for majority shareholder Loxone.

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

For 2026/2027, Kiska is planning growth 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 often a topic of controversy in the market. While many fans saw the aggressive styling 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 lot of Kiska's influence in KTM's design, as recent spy shots suggest. However, with the establishment of its own design center, KTM will increasingly control the design process internally. In the medium term, a new design language for the core brand could also crystallize. It also remains uncertain whether the well-known design line will continue for Husqvarna and GasGas.

What is certain is that the structural separation has been completed—however, the collaboration as a client is set to continue (for now).