Bike manufacturer BMW Motorrad, according to reports, is going to launch a series of sub-500 cc motorcycles in over next three years. Although no official statement has been released by the German automobile manufacturer, strong rumours have emerged regarding the type of bikes that might be launched. If sources are to be believed then BMW Motorrad is likely to include a naked bike and an adventure bike in its portfolio. Sources close to this development have said that the naked and adventure bikes might have a displacement below 250 cc. As per reports and figures, the German two-wheeler manufacturer has been performing really well in the international market.
Bikes produced by BMW Motorrad have been admired for their superb technology, performance oriented engines and excellent aerodynamics. Recently, according to reports, the German firm celebrated nine decades of motorcycling at an event, which also saw the unveiling of BMW R nine T. This development has augured well for the Indian bike maker TVS as it has entered a partnership with BMW Motorrad. According to reports, these sub-500 cc bikes are going to be manufactured at TVS' facility located in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu.
Industry experts feel that this collaboration between BMW Motorrad and TVS is a great news for the Indian bike market. Production of bikes from BMW Motorrad automatically means the involvement of better technology and processing, something that TVS is likely to benefit from. Although nothing has been confirmed, sources say a sub-250 cc motorcycle might make its way to showrooms by 2016. Currently, the lowest configuration model from the German manufacturer is G650S, which is an entry level motorcycle. Reports regarding the collaboration between BMW Motorrad and TVS have been surfacing for a long time now. Rumours suggest that both these companies have already started working on the project and is expected to come up with a model soon. It is being said that BMW Motorrad is planning to expand its operations to emerging markets in the world, where the demand for sports bikes is increasing day by day.
Notably, India is one of the largest markets in the world for two-wheelers, as a huge population travels on bikes on a regular basis. In addition, there is a large network of motorcycle enthusiasts who love machines from popular brands. In fact, slowly and steadily the demand for sports bikes in India has been rising in the past few years. Experts believing that collaborating with an Indian company is a wise decision for any foreign bike maker as the latter has an already existing structural framework that can be utilised by the former.
There have been a few examples of successful partnerships between Indian and foreign bike makers. Hero Honda, a partnership that was dissolved sometime back, can be considered as the most successful collaboration in the history of the Indian market. Another association that is making its way to the top is the one between Bajaj and KTM. The Austrian manufacturer, in association with Bajaj, is producing motorcycles for the Indian market. Some analysts believe that the low capacity bikes from BMW might compete with KTM models. However, since everything is at an early stage at the moment, it would not be appropriate to draw a comparison between the two.
