MV Agusta

MV Agusta is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1945 in Cascina Costa, near Varese, in the Lombardy region of Italy, where the company continues to maintain its headquarters and manufacturing facility. The company was originally established as a division of the Agusta aviation group, founded by Count Giovanni Agusta, and the MV in its name stands for Meccanica Verghera, referencing the municipality where the factory was located. MV Agusta holds one of the most distinguished records in motorcycle racing history, having won 75 World Championship titles and 270 Grand Prix victories, primarily during its dominant era from the 1950s through the 1970s with legendary riders including Giacomo Agostini, John Surtees, and Mike Hailwood. After a period of closure, the motorcycle brand was revived in 1997 and has since reestablished itself as a producer of exotic, high-performance motorcycles with an emphasis on design and exclusivity. The current model range includes the F3 and Superveloce in the supersport category, the Brutale series of naked sport bikes, the Dragster for the urban performance segment, the Turismo Veloce for sport touring, and the Rush as an ultra-exclusive hyper-naked. MV Agusta motorcycles are known for their counter-rotating crankshaft technology, radial-valve cylinder heads, and distinctive exhaust note from their inline three-cylinder and four-cylinder engines. Production volumes remain deliberately small, with approximately 5,000 to 8,000 units per year, reinforcing the brand's positioning as an exclusive, artisanal alternative to larger-volume competitors. KTM AG acquired a significant minority stake in MV Agusta in 2022, providing financial stability and access to a larger supply chain.