It has been a rocky year for Volkswagen. Not only were their vehicles finally added to the huge Takata airbag inflator recall, but the automaker was also embroiled in scandal. The event aptly named Dieselgate has put VW on the hook for up to $35 billion in fines. That means the manufacturer might need to unload some side holdings, and it just so happens that Ducati is one of those holdings.

Could Volkswagen Sell Ducati?

Ducati was in a bad way when Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, bought the Italian mark. The red bike factory had some bad debts, and it looked like bankruptcy was on the horizon. Then Audi took over and fixed the books, enhanced Ducati R&D, and put the motorcycle manufacturer back on track.

The company that made the 90˚ V-twin famous almost immediately started contributing to VW’s bottom line. It earned around $59.7 million in profits and sold 54,800 motorcycles in 2015. It is easily one of the most successful motorcycle brands in world right now, but its profit margin makes up only a fraction of a percent of VW’s $235 billion empire. This led many analysts to believe Ducati could be on the chopping block to help pay for Dieselgate.

Right now, Ducati is estimated to be worth around $1.1 billion, a small yet decent chunk of the fines the company may owe. However, despite the swirling rumors and what some would call good sense, VW wants to keep Ducati. Almost as soon as the rumors hit the media, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler spoke to Britain’s Motorcycle News to say Ducati is not for sale.

For now, it appears that Ducati will stay on the successful path VW has put it on, but things in the motorcycle world are always changing. To keep up with those changes, follow the lawyers that ride on Facebook and Twitter. Plus, keep an eye on our blog for tips, safety updates, and legal news that could affect your ride!