After a long wait, British bike maker, Triumph Motorcycles is finally going to enter the domestic market by November this year. Vimal Sumbly who was recently appointed as the Managing Director of the firm after the sudden resignation of the previous MD, Ashish Joshi in April last year, has an experience of sixteen years in the automobile sector. He is an ex-employee of Bajaj Auto and is himself a bike enthusiast. The company had earlier stated the reason for the delay in entering the market as the resignation of Joshi at the most sudden time.
The first look of their bikes was given to the Indian audience in the Auto Expo at New Delhi in 2012 wherein it had also released the price of each of its variants. The public can expect a price raise since the value of rupee has depreciated at its extremes and the inflation has brought in all the more woes to the automobile industry. The company is expected to bring out CKD or Completely Knocked Down units instead of the tried and tested formula of bringing out Completely Built Units (CBU). This is a major risk that the company has taken but experts believe that one can expect on cutting down of cost due to this. Currently, the motorcycles will be represented by a few dealers only, but the company officials are working to expand its network.
As per speculations, the company might assemble the lower models like Street Triple, Bonneville and Daytona 675 in India just the way Harley Davidson does. The higher models like Rocket III and Thunderbird Storm may however be imported. The company also has a plant in its name at Narsapura on the outskirts of Bangalore that is under construction. Sources tell that it would take some time for the plant to set up and construction to begin. In any case, the plant is part of the company's strategy and would start manufacturing in the coming future.
"2013 is a very crucial year for Triumph Motorcycles in India and as a company, we are confident about the timing of our market entry. In the past few months, we have carefully assessed the market landscape and will be making well-honed efforts to provide our discerning customers with a complete brand experience," said Paul Stroud, Director Sales & Marketing (Triumph global) in an interaction with media when asked to express his views on India's significance in the international strategy of Triumph. Vimal Sumbly expressed his delight over joining Triumph Motors as the brand has a perfect strategy for make it a brand name in the domestic market. He believes that Indian customers would soon experience the riding pleasure of these category wining vehicles on the Indian roads.
The company is quite confident about making a unique space for itself in a high potential market booming with competition. Unlisted Triumph is among the oldest motorcycle makers globally that started as a bicycle manufacturing company in 1887 and made its first motorcycle in 1902. It would face competition with U.S.-based Harley-Davidson, Yamaha Motors and Honda Motors in India.
In India, the company would be competing with U.S.-based Harley-Davidson Inc. (HOG), which sells locally assembled models in the Indian auto market. It would also compete with companies such as Suzuki Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Yamaha Motor Co. in India. Triumph Motorcycles currently has manufacturing facilities in Leicestershire, Hinckley and Thailand and an assembly facility in Brazil.
