KTM AG announced the end of its partnership with KISKA Design, the Salzburg firm that defined its aggressive motorcycle styling for over 30 years. The Austrian manufacturer sold its stake in KISKA to Loxone GmbH, a smart home technology company based in Austria. KTM officials cited cost optimization and simplified operations after Bajaj Auto’s acquisition of Pierer Mobility as the main reasons for the split.

The collaboration began in the early 1990s. KISKA handled everything from motorcycle aesthetics to branding, apparel and customer interfaces. That work turned KTM into the sharp-edged brand fans know today. Pierer Mobility once owned up to 50 percent of KISKA shares, making KTM the studio’s biggest client.

Under the new ownership structure, Loxone GmbH takes a 71 percent majority stake in KISKA. The agency’s management team retains 29 percent. KTM plans to open its own design center in Salzburg, distinct from its main development site in Mattighofen. Company executives say this setup will tighten integration between design and engineering.

Bajaj Auto completed its takeover of Pierer Mobility earlier this year, injecting capital into the struggling motorcycle maker. KTM has faced financial pressures, including staff cuts and restructuring. The shift away from KISKA fits into broader efforts to cut external costs.

Upcoming KTM models will keep their familiar look. Development cycles run several years, so bikes already in the works carry the angular lines KISKA perfected. The 390 Duke, Adventure series and others in production pipelines show no immediate visual overhaul.

KISKA now eyes diversification. Without KTM as its anchor, the studio has worked with Adidas on products and Cardo on the Beyond helmet line. It also designed the BSA Thunderbolt prototype, revealed at EICMA in 2025. Staff reductions hit KISKA amid KTM’s cutbacks, but leaders there plan to chase projects with more global brands.

The Salzburg design center will employ former KISKA talent, according to reports. KTM aims to preserve its visual identity under one roof. Pierer Mobility confirmed the transaction closes a chapter but ensures continuity in the brand’s DNA.

Industry watchers see this as part of a larger trend. Motorcycle makers like Ducati and BMW have built in-house design teams in recent years. KTM’s step brings it in line, potentially speeding up innovation cycles.