KTM stops illegal imports

KTM has announced it has shut down the lucrative trade in illegally imported KTMs.

The bikes, believed to be new off-roaders imported from the USA, had not been correctly assembled prior to sale or given basic pre-delivery safety inspections according to KTM.

KTM said that one importer at the centre of the legal action was responsible for illegally importing £160,000-worth of KTMs last year.

KTM’s lawyers secured what it described as ‘significant damages’ for the Austrian company from the  importers and KTM hopes this will act as a deterrent to other would-be importers.

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.”

If you are concerned about a KTM you’ve bought, email info@ktm.co.uk with the bike’s VIN number so a safety-check can be run.