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With 55 to 58 per cent of its sales volumes coming from the ‘Classics’ portfolio, Triumph Motorcycles India will continue its focus on the segment in a big way.
“These bikes (like the Bonneville) are very practical for first-time buyers,” Shoeb Farooq, General Manager, Triumph Motorcycles India, told BusinessLine . “This portfolio will remain a big portion of our strategy going forward,” he said.
Eye on mid-range
The company is also keeping an eye on the mid-range 250 cc to 500 cc segment, despite currently not offering any models in that range. “There is huge traction in the 250 cc to 500 cc category and to my mind, it provides a huge opportunity for the brand going forward,” Farooq said, adding that the segment is right below Triumph’s niche.
This is why Farooq said he viewed new entrants such as Jawa and Royal Enfield’s twin cylinder motorcycles in a different light. “The more people buy under where we are operating, that is where we will get customers looking for upgrades from,” he said.
Tie-up with Bajaj
But given Triumph and Bajaj’s much talked-about partnership in the mid-range motorcycle category, it will not be long before Triumph enters this space. The first motorcycle is said to roll out in 2021. While Farooq neither confirmed nor denied this timeline, he said the “information in the public domain” is indicative of the same.
“We are moving steadily in terms of development of the engine and the product. The commercial agreement is still to be signed and it should happen soon. As soon as that is done, there will be official word on the segment, (engine) capacity, price, timeline, etc,” said Farooq.
The partnership with Bajaj will seek to leverage Bajaj Auto’s manufacturing capabilities at its Chakan plant near Pune, which already churns out the KTM brand of motorcycles. Manufacturing in India could also help Triumph bring down costs significantly.
New dealerships
Farooq said the company would go live with its Guwahati dealership in the next two months. “We plan to have roughly 20 dealerships by 2020 (from the current 16) across the country. That should give us the coverage we are looking at, with the current range of products,” he said.
With regard to the BS VI norms that come into effect from next year, Farooq said that the company is poised for the update. “All through next year, we will work on phasing out the current stock,” he said.
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