Which motorcycle company did Harley-Davidson acquire in 2008?

Harley-Davidson acquired the Italian motorcycle company MV Agusta in 2008.

The acquisition included MV Agusta and its subsidiary Cagiva, giving Harley-Davidson control of the Italian brands during a period of international expansion. MV Agusta was known for high-performance sport motorcycles and a strong Grand Prix racing heritage.

Harley-Davidson completed the purchase in 2008, but the arrangement was short-lived. The company sold MV Agusta back to Claudio Castiglioni in 2010, returning the Italian marque to its previous ownership group.

This episode is often confused with Harley-Davidson’s relationship with Buell. Buell was an American performance-motorcycle company in which Harley-Davidson had invested and later acquired, but it was not the company purchased in 2008. Harley-Davidson also owned the former Buell brand until announcing its closure in 2009.