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KTM takes strong action against illegal importers 

KTM, the Austrian based producer of off-road and street motorbikes, has recently prevented the sale of illegal imports of its bikes into the UK. 

KTM prides itself on the quality and safety of its bikes. The illegal imports introduced into the UK had not been correctly assembled prior to sale, nor had they been given basic pre-delivery safety inspections.

The bikes did not carry a warranty, so the sellers had no way of knowing whether or not a particular model or part had been recalled on safety grounds. 

In around the last year or so, one importer, who was at the centre of this action, was responsible for importing KTM bikes valued at £160,000.

As part of a strategic decision by KTM to ensure that every product on sale in the UK met quality and safety standards, KTM instructed law firm Shoosmiths to take action against the importers of the illegal motorbikes.

Shoosmiths’ intellectual property specialist Emile Saadi secured significant damages for KTM through the actions against importers and, as a consequence, the company hopes this action will act as a deterrent to other would-be offenders in the future.

KTM UK managing director Shaun Sisterson said: “We chose to take action against these individuals to reaffirm our zero tolerance approach to the immediate safety of our customers.

“These illegal bikes posed a serious threat to their physical well being, and we’re determined to eradicate the importation and sale of these dangerous goods through any means available.

“Our customers can also help us in our fight against these illegal importers by refusing to purchase bikes from unauthorised sources. However, if these illegal importers and sellers continue to offend, they will be met with legal action.

“This repetitive infringement of consumer products not only stands to threaten peoples’ safety, it’s also damaging the trade of hard working legitimate UK sellers, and many of the smaller businesses that are working harder than ever before to remain profitable in the choppy economic climate we are currently experiencing.” 

KTM has invited any of its customers who are concerned about recent or proposed purchases of new or used bikes, to email info@ktm.co.uk  with the bike’s unique VIN number so that a safety-check can be run.