In Italy they are afraid that Benelli has shot himself in the foot when he received a helpline from the QJMotor in 2005. Last month, the Chinese launched the QJMotor SRT family in Italy, the twin sister of the Benelli TRK.
When the Chinese giant QianJiang Motorcycles, part of the Geely Group, which also has Volvo in its portfolio, acquired approximately 70% of the Benelli shares in 2005, the future of the illustrious Italian motorcycle brand seemed to be saved.
Initially, QJ focused on its own market with Benelli, while in the meantime a completely new line of lightweight motorcycles was developed for the European market. And with success, the TRK502 grew into the best-selling model in its home country Italy.
With a firm foot in the door of the A2 segment, three models for the premium middle class were presented at the EICMA in Milan last year: the TRK800, TRK702 and TRK702X, the market introduction of which was planned for summer 2023.
The three premium Allroad models were very positively received in Milan and the arrival of those models seemed to be good news for Benelli, were it not for the fact that later on exactly the same models were presented at the bottom of the QJMotor stand as the SRT700 and SRT800.
Apart from a few minor details, the Benelli TRK and QJMotor SRT models are identical. Almost the same design, the same specifications, the same chassis and the same engine, developed by the same teams and produced in the same factory by the same hands.
Now that would have been a smart idea if the QJMotor models were intended for the Chinese domestic market and the Benelli models for the premium markets (Europe, North America and Australia), but QJMotor is now also trying to get a foot in the door in Europe. to get.
Which has now led to QJMotor putting the SRT800 and SRT700 on the market in Italy even before Benelli’s official launch of the TRK800, TRK702 and TRK702X QJMotor and thus effectively competing with itself.
However, what worries the Italians even more is how the distribution of the QJMotor models has gone. In the search for an importer, QJ first turned to Padana Ricambi, which in Italy also represents the interests of other Chinese giants such as Voge and CFMoto.
To underline how serious it is, QJMotor decided to import the models directly through its subsidiary Volta Tech SRL, after which it attempted to enter into commercial agreements with the nearly two hundred Benelli dealers, who, due to the conflicting interests between the KRT and TRK models, had offer almost always declined.
However, QJ did not budge and in no time, freeing up seemingly unlimited financial resources, a multi-brand dealer network was rolled out, which is a thorn in the side for the Italians for their Italian brand from Pesaro.
To increase brand awareness nationally, but also internationally, QJ has teamed up with the Gresini racing team as QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2. This reinforces the suspicion that Benelli has brought in the Trojan horse with QJMotor and that it is only a matter of time before they are wiped off the map by their own parent company.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.