Photo: weroyalriders.com
Royal Enfield is continuing their expansion spree, after successfully ending 2014 with more than 300,000 units sold around the world, and are eyeing a huge increase as far as their production is concerned. Basically Enfield is working hard on upping the number of bikes they produce yearly by a whopping 50 percent, reaching the 450,000 zone.
An important step in the progress and expansion of the Royal Enfield brand is research and development, and the most recent announcements from the Indian manufacturer indicate that not one, but two technology hubs will be opened in 2015 and 2016.
Sources are scarce in mentioning future plans or development directions for Royal Enfield, but we already know that the iconic manufacturer is planning a wider-scale upgrade for its operations in multiple markets around the world. Even more, we recently learned about Royal Enfield applying for the “Himalayan” trademark in Europe, a signal which might indicate that the Indians might be planning expanding their line-up with more modern models and tapping into the adventure segment.
Further developments are expected in the case of the Himalayan bike, and whatever news arrives from that “front” could shine some light on Royal Enfield’s new orientation. So far, the company is doing quite well selling their retro machines, possibly the closest to the real deal we can ever come across. Still, if Enfield wants to up the game in a serious manner, their old-tech, underpowered bikes are not a foundation solid enough to build on, and they need modern technology.
Are these two R&D centers the poles which will effuse a new generation of Royal Enfield machines? We tend to believe they are, but we’ll have to wait until at least 2016 to see what models and ideas emerge from those think tanks. At the same time, seeing Enfiel reinvented would be truly glorious, especially the 1901-founded manufacturer also claims to be the world's oldest continuously motorcycle operation.
Returning home to Britain
The first of the two new R&D facilities will be established on the brand’s home ground, in the UK. A “technology center” will become operational in Leicestershire by the end of 2015. A similar one will be opened in India, in the vicinity of Chennai, one of the country’s major cities and a very important technology-laden region, visordown reports.Sources are scarce in mentioning future plans or development directions for Royal Enfield, but we already know that the iconic manufacturer is planning a wider-scale upgrade for its operations in multiple markets around the world. Even more, we recently learned about Royal Enfield applying for the “Himalayan” trademark in Europe, a signal which might indicate that the Indians might be planning expanding their line-up with more modern models and tapping into the adventure segment.
Further developments are expected in the case of the Himalayan bike, and whatever news arrives from that “front” could shine some light on Royal Enfield’s new orientation. So far, the company is doing quite well selling their retro machines, possibly the closest to the real deal we can ever come across. Still, if Enfield wants to up the game in a serious manner, their old-tech, underpowered bikes are not a foundation solid enough to build on, and they need modern technology.
Are these two R&D centers the poles which will effuse a new generation of Royal Enfield machines? We tend to believe they are, but we’ll have to wait until at least 2016 to see what models and ideas emerge from those think tanks. At the same time, seeing Enfiel reinvented would be truly glorious, especially the 1901-founded manufacturer also claims to be the world's oldest continuously motorcycle operation.
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