The Chinese dream is fading, and the Varese factory has ground to a halt. A journey into the nightmare of MV Agusta amid lawsuits, impossible-to-find spare parts, and a dealer revolt.

Anyone who loves motorcycles knows that certain brands are not just pieces of metal and pistons, but pieces of the soul. And when a brand like MV Agusta trembles, the very history of Italian motorcycling shakes with it.

Let's put aside glossy press releases, soulless corporate speech, and stock market tables: the reality in Schiranna is raw, heavy, and smells of closed workshops.

Following the resounding thud of the marriage with China’s CFMOTO—which was supposed to acquire a 48% stake and clear the books—and the traumatic divorce from KTM, the Varese factory gates have been locked since April.

No roaring three-cylinder test engines, immobile assembly lines, and a network of dealers looking at empty showrooms wondering if tomorrow will ever come.

Quick Consultation Box (At a Glance)

The Situation in Varese: Assembly lines have been immobile since April 2026 due to unpaid invoices to suppliers.

The CFMOTO Mess: The dream agreement for 49% of the shares was unilaterally torn up. It is now a legal war fought by lawyers.

The Real Numbers: Scarcely 1,238 motorcycles delivered from January to July 2026. Chilling numbers.

Who Pays the Price: 185 worker families and an exasperated dealer network without vehicles or spare parts.

Who Quit: Manager Hubert Trunkenpolz resigned in open protest last July.

Silent Factories and Suppliers with Frozen Credits

You only need to drive around the facilities to understand that the atmosphere has changed. Nothing has been produced in Varese for months. The toy broke when the €35 million capital increase promised by the holding company Art of Mobility remained strictly on paper.

Without fresh cash in the coffers, suppliers turned off the component taps. And without parts, the Brutale and Dragster remain mere drawings in catalogs. Warehouses are deserted, and assembly lines have been cannibalized by silence. A paradox for a brand that, just twelve months ago, was talking about global expansion and entry into MotoGP.

The Collapsed Marriage with CFMOTO and Legal CHAOS

The agreement with CFMOTO seemed like the definitive turning point. A €6 billion giant ready to put real money on the table to relaunch Schiranna. An agreement signed in June on stamped paper thanks to the good offices of Hubert Trunkenpolz. Then, suddenly, a total short circuit.

A furious dispute over restructuring terms, unilateral contract termination, and the Swiss firm Circular Economy AG dragging the ownership to court, winning the first legal rounds. The result? Trunkenpolz slammed the door and resigned abruptly on July 20th, leaving the ship without a real captain. Subsequent attempts to find an alternative savior (involving German funds and international syndicates) shattered against a wall of debt estimated once again in the millions of euros.

The Rage of Dealers: "Zero Bikes and Not Even a Bolt"

Try explaining industrial strategies to those who spend ten hours a day pulling down the shutters at a dealership. The pulse of the sales network in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland reveals a painful split:

Those Completely Dry: Historic vendors serving customers for twenty years are reporting the abyss. "MV produces nothing and delivers nothing" is the desperate cry. Some have seen a single bike all through 2026 and haven't received a spare part in two months, to the point of organizing DIY van trips all the way to Varese to beg for the remaining unsold models sitting in the yards.

Those Trying to Resist: Other major dealers defend the fort, reporting about 150 units received and betting that production of the 2026 models will genuinely restart in October. But trust has now become an optional worn thin by time.

Numbers That Hurt and 185 Workers in Limbo

The data speaks clearly and pins management down to their responsibilities. From January to July 2026, registrations stopped at a meager 1,238 motorcycles. These numbers are light-years away from the relaunch targets touted in the summer, when the golden volumes of the past were being dreamed of.

The separation from KTM—itself overwhelmed by billion-euro debts—left MV Agusta alone once again, in the hands of an ownership unable to guarantee continuity. And while managers bicker in high-rises, the highest price is paid by the 185 employees in Varese, hostages of an industrial crisis that risks erasing a piece of Italian motorsports history.

Pros and Uncomfortable Truths

The Legend is Unquestionable: The visceral charm of an MV three-cylinder, the artisanal care of details, and Agostini’s pedigree remain a unique emotional heritage in the world.

Financial Management is a Sieve: Too many changes of hands, too many broken promises, and loose finance that has turned an industrial excellence into a drifting boat.

The Verdict of CrazyWheels.it

"MV Agusta doesn't need bankers' PowerPoint presentations or proclamations from people who have never taken a slap of wind on their helmet. It needs someone who invests money, love for mechanics, and respect for those who buy the motorcycles. The time for fairy tales is over: either we go back to producing beauty in Varese, or all we have left is the museum."

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the MV Agusta factory in Varese really blocked?

Yes, reports from suppliers and the supply chain confirm that machinery has been at a standstill since last April due to unpaid invoices and missing components.

Why did the agreement with the Chinese company CFMOTO fail?

The alliance for a 49% stake collapsed due to irreconcilable differences over financial restructuring plans, resulting in contract termination and a fierce international legal battle.

How many motorcycles have been sold so far in 2026?

In the first seven months of the year (up to the end of July), deliveries miserably stalled at 1,238 units.

Are dealers able to receive spare parts?

The situation is dramatic for many European dealers who report a total block on spare parts lasting for months, making customer assistance impossible.