The Royal Enfield models, especially the Bullet, are hot selling items both in developed and emerging market countries.
Waiting list has now reached up to ten months. The company was quite unprepared last year to face such a demand and is contemplating building a second plant that can produce 150,000 units.
This year, the plan is to sell 70,000 units and 100,000 in 2012. Success of the brand is attributed to a new lineup equipped with a reliable and fuel efficient UCE engine, moderate pricing and acceptance of the retro looking style.
If the immediate focus is to meet the existing demand, Royal Enfield also wants to offer as fast as possible bigger and faster bikes. the company is working on a twin-cylinder 750 cc for a new range of models on the Café Racer concept which will hit the market in 2013. Conceptualization work is being carried out right now. Short term, a new and refreshed Thunderbird is also in the work. If the plans can be executed with perfection, a Royal Enfield Cafe Racer lineup at affordable prices could attract new young bikers all around the world. Royal Enfield.
Amazing news. Who would have thought that the Royal Enfield niche market would expand so fast.
I bet some of that market is in India
US, Canada, Africa, Latin America & India, Targeting 70,000 bikes sold in the USA in 2012.
Man those are some nice bikes. Look just like the old ones but these will start.
anyone know the price on the military model?
RE:
“…just like the old ones but these will start…”
Trust me, the old ones would start just fine.
Ya simply had to knew how to maintain your scooter.
The 60’s Enfield Interceptor sitting out in the shop still does.
At the risk of pissing in the proverbial Punch Bowl, it should be noted that
if you were “into motorcycles” you made it your business to know all that stuff.
Conversely, if you didn’t, then, basically it was understood that “you had no business……….”
It wasn’t a “Life Style” that one chooses.. like an accessory to your personality…..
It was a commitment to a Discipline.
A curriculum of knowledge required to facilitate a life-long journey.
For the true believer it means “we eat breath sleep dream live and love motorcycles”
(the rest chose a lifestyle)
Tried kick-starting an old English 500cc single lately?
So, selling 70 -to- 100,000 units to people who “Choose a Life Style”…..
Somehow, i don’t think so……
And if there’s a God in heaven, it won’t have an electric starter……. 🙂
-nicker-
In the good old days one out of every _ _ _ _ rider developed a limp, Good ole kick start. LOL
Bump starting was the way to go ( necessity ) some times and missing your ride when it started. Ouch!
Had a neighbor, Bless his soul, developed a limp for the remainder of his life. That old Harley beat the hell out of him. He went to heaven you know.
nicker/fuji – wonderful posts!
India continues to expand thanks to its exporting of high tech jobs. India is creating a middle class demographic which will continue well into the future. With about a billion natives to serve RE has plenty of people to serve.
Exporting – Last year we saw the first imports here.
These bikes are all over India, millions of them. In the movie One Crazy Ride the riders all rode these machines across Indian in very remote regions and when they needed to fix a busted bike the local mechanic could patch them up with spare parts lying arround their garage.
Any company doing well right now, has to be happy and proud of their efforts.
It have to be twin….
If RE can produce a good retro looking vertical twin “Interceptor” with at least 65 hp at the rear wheel they will sell like hot cakes (as long as they don’t put a big nasty oil cooler on it).
I’d buy one in a flash.
Also here in Italy we are working to improve this wonderful brand!
thanks
bye
lu