Volkswagen's $1.8-bn Ducati sale hits union roadblock

German carmaker Volkswagen has put the ^1.5 billion($1.8 billion) sale of Ducati motorcycles on hold after resistance from German trade unions and internal rifts on strategy, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Ducati is wholly controlled by Volkswagen's luxury brand Audi, which is at odds with the parent over strategy, and a decision to sell the 91-year old business, which is based in the Borgo Panigale district of the northern Italian city of Bologna, needs to be approved by VW's supervisory board. Labour leaders at Volkswagen, who hold half the seats on the 20-member board, have strongly opposed a sale