Change of supervisory board at Pierer Mobility: Zöchling goes, Bajaj gets in!
Stephan Zöchling is eliminated from the supervisory board of Pierer Mobility AG while the group is reorganizing.

Change of supervisory board at Pierer Mobility: Zöchling goes, Bajaj gets in!
Stephan Zöchling becomes the central player in the restructuring of Pierer Mobility AG after he was elected head of the supervisory board on January 27, 2023. However, his time on the Supervisory Board ended early on June 23, 2023, when he left the committee as part of a comprehensive restructuring that was initiated after a critical phase of the company. During his tenure, Zöchling granted the company valuable financial support that was crucial for the rescue of KTM. This rescue was given by a loan of 450 million euros from Bajaj Auto International Holdings B.V. Additional backing. Also 150 million euros flowed to fulfill quotas to the KTM companies after Bajaj had already invested 200 million euros in the restart of production.
On May 22, 2023, it became known that the Pierer Group Society mbH fully repaid its comprehensive credit liabilities compared to the Dabepo Holding from Zöchling. This agreement was the result of mutually acceptable termination of your business relationship. In the upcoming supervisory board election on June 23, Rajiv Bajaj and Friedrich Roithner will also leave. The candidates Dinesh Thapar, Ernst Chalupsky and Ewald Oberhammer are new to the supervisory board.
controversy around Zöchling
However, criticism was also exposed toStephan Zöchling, especially due to his business activities in Russia during the Ukraine War. Zóchling recently took over assets from former Sberbank Europe AG, which raises questions in view of the geopolitical situation. In the 2000s, Zöchling was active in Russia and built up important relationships with powerful actors, including Herman Gref, the CEO of Sberbank Russia.
The connection to Russian business interests remains a controversial topic. Zöchling was also active in the automotive division of the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, which continues to complicate his business entanglements in the region.
perspectives on the future
The possibility that Zöchling Siegfried Wolf, the former Magna boss, could possibly replace in a consortium, has additional conflict potential. Due to his connections to Russia and its role in the Eurofighter affair, Wolf is under massive criticism, which he denies. The current upheaval in Pierer Mobility AG could therefore take place in an environment that is already shaped by tensions.
The restructuring within Pierer Mobility AG and the associated changes in the Supervisory Board ring in a new era in which decisive course must be set for the future of the company. The developments related to the ownership of the ownership, which are expected to take place by May 2026, are pursued with great attention. While Bajaj Auto acts as a possible new sole owner of Pierer Bajaj AG, the economic and political relevance of actors such as Zöchling and its connections remains an exciting topic that will not only stimulate discussions in the automotive industry, but also beyond.