Is Royal Enfield Outpacing Harley-Davidson, BMW Motorrad, and KTM in the Motorcycle Industry?
India's got some serious horsepower! Contrary to popular belief, Japan or China might not be home to the biggest motorcycle manufacturers. India, with its compelling argument, is shaking things up.
When it comes to high-revenue motorcycle brands producing large quantities, you might think of Harley-Davidson and BMW. But when it comes to the number of two-wheelers produced annually, Japanese giants like Honda and Yamaha are usually in the lead, thanks to their wide range of models – from 50cc scooters upwards.
But when it comes to focusing solely on motorcycles and leaving out scooters and small vehicles, it's the Indian brand, Royal Enfield, that takes the front seat. Kai Petermann, the man in charge of Royal Enfield's German distribution, explains it best. "We don't make 125cc or smaller engines, which well-known large manufacturers use to pump up their production numbers. We don't produce mopeds, cheap motorcycles, or anything similar."
Royal Enfield exclusively churns out mid-range motorcycles with engine capacities of 250 to 750cc, and in large numbers. In the last fiscal year, they produced over one million motorcycles for the first time, with a grand total of 1,009,000 units.
Their success is spread across four engine series: a 350cc single-cylinder, two air-cooled engines – a 440cc single-cylinder not homologated for Europe and a 650cc twin-cylinder – and a 450cc single-cylinder with liquid cooling, available only in the Himalayan adventure bike and the naked bike Guerilla since 2023.
Royal Enfield: A Premium Wheel in India's Market
Royal Enfield is blowing anything but tires. This brand has been consistently growing and is considered a premium choice in its home market. It's also expanding its sales in Asia and the Western world. Even in performance-oriented Germany, the brand's influence is on the rise: in 2022, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) listed Royal Enfield among the twelve strongest motorcycle brands by volume for the first time.
2025 has Royal Enfield focused on strengthening its presence in the twin-cylinder segment, with the "Bear 650" and "Classic 650" models set to debut. The former is a scrambler, while the latter continues the brand's legacy established in 1901. In total, the Indian portfolio comprises twelve models available in countless variants and colors.
Ranging from the HNTR 350 priced at €4,490 to the Super Meteor 650 "Celestial" at €8,390, there's a Royal Enfield for every gearhead – and a new electric motorcycle is even in the works.
Expanding Indian Territory Nationwide
To continue seeing increasing registration and ownership numbers in Germany, Royal Enfield is augmenting its presence dramatically. Petermann explains, "We want to offer our customers more service, and to that end, we are establishing our own German subsidiary. This will kick off operations in Freiburg this fall, coordinating Royal Enfield's distribution in Germany."
[1] finanse.pl[2] financialexpress.com[3] osck.gov.np[4] investing.com
- The Indian motor vehicle industry, with Royal Enfield leading the charge, is making its mark in the global transportation sector, challenging well-established players like Harley-Davidson and BMW.
- Unlike many other large manufacturers that also produce small vehicles and scooters, Royal Enfield focuses solely on manufacturing motorcycles with engine capacities ranging from 250cc to 750cc, contributing significantly to the automotive manufacturing industry.
- In an effort to expand its reach and improve services, Royal Enfield is setting up its own subsidiary in Germany, aiming to increase its presence and influence in the European finance and transportation markets.
