Royal Enfield to expand business operations, unveils new Thunderbird

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According to R.L. Ravichandran, CEO, Royal Enfield, production would be ramped up from the existing 40,000 units to 60,000 units per annum.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of a new Thunderbird model - Thunderbird Twinspark 350cc - Ravichandran said the company is aiming for a 20 percent growth this fiscal.

According to Eicher Motors managing director and CEO, Siddhartha Lal, other two-wheeler companies that are offering similar high-powered motorcycles in India would not affect their sales. "We don't expect the new players affecting our market. On the other hand it would only grow the overall market size," Lal said.

Besides Thunderbird Twinspark 350cc, Royal Enfield is set to launch three new twinspark models - the Machismo, Electra and the Bullet 350 that would incorporate unit construction engine (UCE). Unlike traditional motorcycles in which the clutch assembly and gearbox are separate and fitted on to the engine, in UCE models the engine, clutch and gear box are in a single compact unit. Thunderbird Twinspark 350cc is the first of the motorcycles manufactured by Royal Enfield to feature UCE.

"We have been working on twinspark technology for our type of motorcycle architecture since the late-90's and have found it suitable for mass-production with our new engine platform," Lal added.

Last year, Royal Enfield sold 38,529 units, out of which 26,000 units were exported.