Well, that was not secret news. Kind of noisy as they were cancelling what it was the next collaboration with Bagag and then they switch (or pretend to switch) to his newer partner CFMoto.
In fact, the supposedly cancelled 450cc engine is apparently the one powering the 450cc segment of CFMoto bikes. Basically 47cv. The max for the intermediate license in a big part of the market.
The main reason for that "change-no change" of the production country seems to be the low acceptance of "made in China" products in India and even more, the difficulty for any producer to sell motorbikes not "made in India" specifically in the popular market segments.
You can find the entire interview to Stefan Pierer here:
Alan Cathcart sits down with KTMs Stefan Pierer to discuss his business, working with CFMoto, in this first entry in a three-part interview.
www.motorcycle.com
The extract of the interview about the new platform is on the part one:
"AC: Will all future middleweight KTM, Husqvarna, and GASGAS twin-cylinder models be made in China?
SP: That’s the plan – they’ll be made in China, and the premium bikes here in Austria. I distinguish between premium and entry-level middle-class models. The more price competitive models are coming from China, and the premium bikes are coming from here. But I was in India in January, and it seems now even the twin-cylinder bikes can also be made there, which is very helpful.
AC: I thought your future strategy had been for CFMOTO to concentrate on producing twin-cylinder middleweight models, and Bajaj in India the single-cylinder models?
SP: Yes, that was our strategy for a while. But for sure in the next two years, the twins will also be made in India, too.
AC: Will this be the RC490 500cc parallel-twin that you’ve been working on for some years?
SP: No, it’ll be the 790 – why should I reinvent everything from scratch?! Maybe they’ll name it the 690 or whatever like BMW, but that’s not an issue. Chinese products don’t have any chance in India, where they have to have an Indian provenance. If you show up with a Chinese-made model, forget it. The 500 class, for me, is not an interesting category anymore, so we stopped the RC490 because we are bringing the 790 down a little bit. We’re talking about the 690 or 650 – and that’s better for marketing, because more is always better than less! Also, its pricing is always an issue. It’s easier to make a satisfactory price tag with a 650 model compared to a 500. A 500 is an entry-level bike."
EDIT: Sorry I forgot the links for the rest of the info. It's not 100% consistent as the availability of the models on the dealers is from end 2024 to "at some point" of 2026
KTM has shelved plans on developing a 490cc, parallel-twin engine equipped bike as it didn’t find it economically viable. Click to know more.
www.autocarindia.com
La nueva gama 690 de KTM, que reemplazará a las 490, tiene lugar de fabricación confirmado: ¿Cuál es y desde cuándo empiezan a producirlas?
lamoto.com.ar
KTM ha confirmado que no fabricará las rumoreadas 490: serán 690, un motor derivado del actual LC8 790, y llegarán de China (CFMoto), no de la India (Bajaj).
www.moto1pro.com
Tras la interrupción del proyecto 490, el fabricante austríaco, conducido por Stefan Pierer, decidió inclinarse por desarrollar un motor de mayor cilindrada y prestaciones.
motoblog.com
