Environmental aid calls for KBA intervention: New allegations against KTM enduros

The trigger is joint research by Climate Whistleblowers and ZDF (“frontal”) with international media partners. This is about a presumed “alibi” homologation: According to DUH, a throttled version will be type-approved, but at the same time a conversion kit including other engine software will be included or made available through dealers. According to criticism, this means that performance, noise and pollutant emissions rise significantly above the approved values.

According to the DUH could at least 32 enduro models of different years of construction may be affected. Be in Germany up to 25,000 vehicles approved which “to all appearances” do not correspond to the approved condition.

To explain: A type approval is the official confirmation that a vehicle type meets the legal requirements (emissions, noise, safety, among others). In principle, vehicles may only be operated in public transport if they correspond to the approved version. Changes to software or exhaust/noise components may affect approval.

“Dissuasive sanctions” called for

DUH Federal Managing Director Jürgen Resch speaks of a sales strategy that is aimed at illegal registrations. The environmental organization demands that the KBA conduct a comprehensive investigation and take “effective measures” to eliminate the legal violations – up to and including Revocation of type approvals and “dissuasive sanctions” against the manufacturer.

Explosive: According to DUH, buyers would have to sign a declaration not to use the machines in traffic, but only in competition or away from public roads. According to Umwelthilfe, this does not release the manufacturer from responsibility if vehicles and accessories are designed for dethrottling from the outset.

Statement from KTM

KTM AG also firmly rejects the allegations made in recent media reports that KTM enduro motorcycles were placed on the market “without valid type approval”. “The KTM Group’s sales practice is complete in accordance with current European regulations. These are not only valid for KTM, but for all manufacturers in this sporting competition segment,” says a statement in response to a request from KURIER. “The enduro machines in question are the models that were used at the Erzbergrodeo, for example. For everyday street use, there are much better alternatives in our portfolio that are not only stronger but also more cost-effective, such as the 790 Duke at 9,299 euros compared to a 450 EXC hard enduro at 12,699 euros including Nova and VAT.”

Enduro models in Europe account for around 3 percent of KTM group sales. “To objectively classify the emissions issues addressed in the reports: According to the Federal Environment Agency, motorcycles in Germany cause around 0.3 percent of total CO₂ emissions. Enduro competition models represent only a small fraction of this. Their mileage is many times lower than that of street motorcycles because they are used for sports and training for a few hours a year,” says Mattighofen.