India (Common Wealth) _Bajaj Auto and Hero MotoCorp are expanding their presence in the premium Indian motorbike market by gearing up the race of Royal Enfield and India’s desi Harley-Davidson to compete with the original Harley-Davidson, which is going to be the inexpensive and affordable dream bike among bike enthusiasts around the world.
Hero MotoCorp announced the X440, a 440-cc bike created in collaboration with Harley-Davidson, barely $1,000 more than Eicher Motors’ best-selling 350cc Royal Enfield Classic 350. This was a departure for Harley-Davidson, which had previously focused on heavyweight motorcycles with displacements more than 750cc.
The new Harley-Davidson is the most affordable model in the cult American bike maker’s lineup, and it will compete directly with the Royal Enfield Classic 350, India’s best-selling sub-500 cc roadster, as well as other similarly priced models. Surprisingly, Harley-Davidson, a videshi brand, would compete with a desi brand that has gone worldwide, selling motorcycles across continents.
Harley-Davidson’s introduction into the mid-weight category (>250cc-750cc) comes at a time when the premium market is exploding. While India’s general two-wheeler market has been depressed in recent years, owing primarily to the epidemic and rising inflation, the premium market has been expanding, with the country accounting for half of the world’s two million mid-size motorcycles sold yearly.
According to figures from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, sales of motorbikes with engine sizes ranging from 250cc to 750cc increased by 38% last fiscal year, more than doubling the overall two-wheeler category.
Royal Enfield motorcycles have achieved legendary status in the world of riding, enthralling riders with its iconic design, characteristic thumping sound, and a long tradition spanning over a century. Royal Enfield has built a position for itself in the worldwide motorcycle market by steadfastly focusing on developing classic motorcycles that evoke nostalgia while embracing current engineering.
During the 1980s, the Indian motorcycle market saw the rise of Japanese manufacturers, such as Hero Honda, who offered more fuel-efficient and cheap motorcycles. Royal Enfield was up against stiff competition, and the brand failed to adapt to shifting market circumstances. However, the corporation underwent a substantial shift in the early 2000s. The Eicher Group purchased Royal Enfield, and the brand underwent major restructuring.
