Royal Enfield joins Europe’s two-wheeler industry body ACEM

India’s fastest growing mid-size motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield has joined the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) as a guest member.

ACEM is the trade association that represents manufacturers of powered-two and three-wheelers as well as quadricycles (L-category vehicles) in Europe. The industry body works closely with the EU institutions, as well as with a wide range of stakeholders, in different policy-areas. These include type-approval of L-category vehicles, environmental legislation, road safety and transport policies, international trade negotiations, etc.

ACEM members include 15 of the largest two-wheeler manufacturing companies and 17 national industry associations in 14 different European countries.

The Chennai-based motorcycle manufacturer marked its return to Europe by launching the café-racer based Continental GT in 2013 and since then has been on an expansion spree in Europe.

In 2015, Royal Enfield opened its first exclusive stores in Europe, in the cities of Madrid and Paris. The company also acquired UK-based motorcycle chassis maker Harris Performance last year to use its expertise in developing mid-size motorcycles for global markets.

The company’s exports grew 32% in 2015-16, with high growth in shipments to France, Spain and the UK. Now, Royal Enfield is also working on several global platforms including a high-performance motorcycle project focused at developed markets, which is likely to have an engine displacement of more than 600cc with a twin-cylinder configuration.

With growing demand for its classic motorcycles in the region and plans of launching higher powered motorcycles for developed markets such as Europe, the company’s move to get associated with ACEM seems well timed.