The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) has officially abolished the import restriction on brand-new completely built-up (CBU) Ducati motorcycles entering Malaysia.
A year ago, rumours were circulating around Ducati’s official distributorship in Malaysia. Ducati moved away from their Naza partnership (Next Bike) and partnered with Goh Brothers (Didi Resources). Now we’re hearing that the Association of Malay Vehicle Importers and Traders of Malaysia (PEKAMA) are getting the green light to also import Ducati bikes, though it’s unclear if these are reconditioned bikes or new bikes as well. In an official notification issued on 27 August 2026 to Datuk Hj. Mohamed Nazari bin Noordin, President of PEKEMA, MITI confirmed that registered Open Approved Permit (AP) motorcycle companies are formally permitted to import brand-new Ducati motorcycles into the country.
Reopening the Open AP Channel for Ducati
Previously, import restrictions on specific high-end and luxury marques limited importation exclusively to appointed brand custodians and franchise holders to protect franchise agreements and official distribution channels. With this policy revision, open AP holders under PEKEMA can now source and bring in brand-new CBU units of Ducati models directly from international markets. It’s likely that PEKEMA members will use this opportunity to bring in lightly aged bikes for larger margin while leaving Didi Resources to bring in the brand new bikes themselves.
Impact on the Malaysian Big-Bike Market
The lifting of the restriction is poised to reshape the local premium motorcycle landscape:
- Expanded Model Availability: Malaysian superbike buyers and collectors may soon see a broader selection of European-spec models, limited-edition variants, and rare configurations that might not traditionally feature in standard local distributor catalogues.
- Pricing and Competitive Dynamics: Allowing Open AP parallel importers to bring in new units creates direct competition in showroom availability and retail pricing for Italian exotics.
- Aftersales Considerations: While parallel-imported units typically offer alternative price points, official distributor-backed units from authorized Ducati Malaysia dealer networks will continue to hold a distinct advantage through factory-backed international warranties, scheduled maintenance programs, recall campaigns, and official Desmo service support.
