None other than Barack Obama, the President of the United States of America, is endorsing the Royal Enfield. The President also announced the expansion of the brand to his country. The motorcycle brand, based in Chennai, has spared 500 crores INR for planting two new technology centers in Leicestershire and Chennai. The larger one will be at a new 4.5 acre property that we have acquired on Old Mahabalipuram Road in Chennai, and will be operational by Q2 2016; a smaller satellite center is being set up in Leicestershire, UK, and will be operational by the end of 2015.
Siddhartha Lal, the chief executive said, “Royal Enfield will be investing 500 crores in 2015 towards product development, capex and other development areas. With a view to become the leader in the global mid-sized motorcycling, Royal Enfield will build two new technology centres.”
The Chennai centre is expected to be concluded by the second quarter of the next year. On the other hand, the UK plant will be ready by the end of 2015. Barack Obama was pleased to see the stunts of BSF officers on this bike during the Republic Day showdown and gave an approval about the same in his country. He said, “I saw the Republic Day daredevils on Royal Enfield motorcycles. The secret service doesn’t let me ride motorcycles, especially not on my head.”
Lal said that Royal Enfield has shown a phenomenal growth in the last year, selling almost 300000 units. There are plans to manufacture 450000 units in 2015 alone. Eicher owns the company and received an income of 30 billion rupees in the previous year, according to reports. Starting off as a British company over 110 years ago, it was later handed over to the Indian partner in 1955. Today it is among the oldest names in motorcycling.
