Royal Enfield to have 500 dealerships across India

Royal Enfield, the two-wheeler arm of Eicher Motors, plans to set up its third plant in Tamil Nadu to double its motorcycle production capacity to around 9 lakh units per annum by 2018. By the end of the year, it also plans to have 500 dealerships across India in a single unified retail identity.

Eicher Motors, Managing Director and CEO, Siddhartha Lal told PTI: “The Company will launch two new models, based on new engine platforms. One model would be launched early next year and the other one in 2017. The company, which sells various popular models like Bullet, Classic, Thunderbird and Continental GT, also plans to expand its sales network in the country. By the end of the year, we plan to have 500 dealerships across India in a single unified retail identity.”

Besides, the company is also looking to expand its presence in the international markets. In the last quarter, Royal Enfield had taken some significant steps as part of its growth strategy of leading and expanding the mid-sized motorcycle segment (250-750cc) globally.

Towards this, Royal Enfield announced its first direct distribution subsidiary outside India, in North America in August this year.

"North America is a nodal market for motorcycles and one of the biggest in value terms. Given its critical importance to our global ambitions, we have decided to operate our wholly-owned subsidiary there," Lal said.

"We will open our first exclusive branded retail store in the United States in Milwaukee in first half of 2016," Lal said. In August, Royal Enfield also announced its entry in Indonesia, the third largest volume motorcycle market in the world.

"Our first exclusive store in Jakarta will be launched later this month," Lal said.