Enfield launches two bikes

Royal Enfield, maker of the iconic range of bikes that includes the Classic and Thunderbird, has launched two bikes, the Classic Chrome and Desert Storm. While the Classic Chrome will cost Rs 1,65,400, on-road, Mumbai, the Desert Storm will cost Rs 1,58,200, on-road, Mumbai.

Launching the bikes at a Mumbai press conference, CEO, Dr Venki Padmanabhan, (seated on the bike) said the new bikes are targeted at buyers who want to pursue a life of leisure. Shaji Koshy, senior VP, sales & marketing said, “Our customers have been demanding the “Chrome” model of Royal Enfield for quite some time now. Both Classic Chrome and Desert Storm are meant to bring more thrills to the customer. With leisure riding catching up rapidly, both these bikes will offer a unique choice to biking enthusiasts.”

He added that following the launch of Classic 350 and 500cc in September 2009, the company has been continuously equipping our dealerships to enhance the customer experience. Koshy also said the company is looking at several export markets in Latin America countries like Uruguay and Ecuador. While Enfield bikes had their origins in the use by the military, the CEO said that just one percent of bikes sold in India are bought by the Indian army. In addition, the company has sold bikes to the police department in various states.

Enfield’s manufacturing facility in Chennai has a 70,000 capacity and according to Koshy, all bikes have a waiting list which the company tries to meet as fast as possible. To meet demand, Royal Enfield is building a second facility in Chennai which will go on stream in the first half of 2013.