Production at Ducati Factory in Borgo Panigale Resumes

On Monday 27 April production will gradually start again at the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale. New motorcycles soon to arrive in dealers!

Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. Factory

Ducati gradually returns to normal, with the steady resumption of production in its Borgo Panigale factory. The first phase of return would begin today, on Monday, April 27. In compliance with the regulatory protocol for measures to combat and contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus; Ducati temporarily suspended production in its Bologna plant on Friday 13 March. Then came the decree that suspended all non-essential activities and therefore, despite the organization being ready, production did not restart. The gradual improvement in health conditions has allowed the Italian government to enable companies deemed strategic for the national economy. Especially whose activities are mainly exports. For which prolongation of the suspension would risk losing Italy additional market shares.

This is the first phase of return, which at the moment will only involve a part of the workers destined for the production lines. Workshop staff will begin first, then engine assembly workers and, from Tuesday 28 April, motorcycle assembly workers. As for employees, the use of smart working will remain mandatory, only those who are not in a position to carry out their work from home will be allowed to access the factory. All resources employed in the commercial, marketing, IT, personnel management, finance, purchasing and logistics areas will, therefore, be working remotely. The production goes from an eight-hour shift to two seven-hour shifts. This is to allow the minimum number of people to be inside the plant at the same time and thus minimize possible contact.

Ducati CEO, Claudio Domenicali: “It is absolutely essential to pay close attention to strict compliance with safety procedures: the virus has not disappeared. The work done jointly with the Emilia-Romagna Region has been important. It will be an extremely difficult year but starting up again is still a beginning; we have a lot of orders for the Streetfighter V4, for the Multistrada GT and for the Panigale V2. The motorbike is a perfect vehicle for ‘phase two’: no parking problems and distancing guaranteed; safety and fun at the same time.”

The technicians engaged in Research and Development activities who cannot do their work from home were already at work as allowed by the specific ATECO code: therefore the engineers of the engine test rooms, those who carry out motorcycle tests and those who carry out laboratory testing are all present at Borgo Panigale. All designers, project managers, and those in the calculation department will work remotely. This will ensure the deliveries of Ducati motorcycles and the development of new products.

Employees called to work will be the minimum necessary to carry out production and research activities and must comply with a rigid safety protocol developed together with the RSU and subject to a specific agreement. Masks will be mandatory for everyone, regardless of distancing.

Despite the reopening of the production lines, Ducati confirms that visits to the Museum, Factory and Fisica in Moto continue to be suspended until further notice. In addition entry into the factory will be prohibited for suppliers, dealers, external contracted companies, and external staff in general. Unless proven and unavoidably required for the continuity of production activities, product development and general services.