In a joint release, Triumph Motorcycles and Bajaj Auto have announced that their partnership has formally commenced. The partnership was first announced in 2017 and the news heated up last year. Now, details have been confirmed. Bajaj Auto will help distribute Triumph bikes in India, as well as manufacture small and mid-capacity motorcycles for the prestigious brand.
The recent announcement states that Bajaj will co-develop and manufacture new motorcycle platforms ranging from 200 cc to 750 cc. These will exclusively don Triumph designs and badging. Triumph will leverage Bajaj Auto’s capabilities, manufacturing expertise, and distribution network in order to fuel its expansion to global, developing markets and drive growth in existing ones.
Another aim of the strategic partnership is to make these lifestyle motorcycles affordable for the riding public. Triumph has expressed its intention to offer a bike with a starting price under IN₹2 lakh (around US$2,800). Triumph Motorcycles has a full lineup of supersports, naked motorcycles, modern classics, adventure bikes, etc. — so we may see small versions of its current offerings or newly-named models.
Not only does Bajaj Auto have an in-house R&D center for developing popular motorcycles like the Dominar under its own brand, it also partly owns KTM and helps build bikes for the Austrian brand as well as Sweden’s Husqvarna. While Bajaj Auto has an equity partnership with KTM, it has a non-equity relationship with Triumph Motorcycles.
We previously reported that Triumph Motorcycles will officially enter the Philippines soon through the Autohub Group; many of the locally available units will be imported from Triumph’s Thailand factory. It’s likely that the smaller bikes, which Bajaj Auto will help Triumph develop, will somehow make their way to our shores.
“This is an important partnership for Triumph and I am delighted that it has now formally commenced. As well as taking our brand into crucial new territories, the products that will come out of the partnership will also help attract a younger, but still discerning, customer audience and is another step in our ambitions to expand globally, particularly in the fast-growing markets of South East Asia, but also driving growth in more mature territories like Europe,” said Nick Bloor, CEO of Triumph Motorcycles, in the joint press release.
“The Triumph brand is an iconic one the world over. So, we are confident that there will be a huge appetite in India and other emerging markets for these new products. We look forward to working alongside such a famous motorcycle company and to leveraging each other’s strengths and expertise to make the relationship a success for everyone,” said Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto India.
