Bajaj Auto has announced that it has signed a global partnership with Triumph Motorcycles UK. This partnership, which is essentially a non-equity deal, will be targetted towards developing new middle weight motorcycle. The two companies are expected to utilise their respective strengths a prowess in order to develop the said products.
Deeper details about the Bajaj-Triumph partnership haven’t surfaced yet. However, the joint statement mentions that the partnership will be taken forward at a global level. As a result, we can see something similar to the BMW Motorrad – TVS Motors alliance, wherein both manufacturers will be utilising their resources to jointly develop products that will be sold under their respective brand names.
For Triumph, this new alliance will help in making inroads into the high-volume middle-weight motorcycle segment. Bajaj has already showcased its expertise in developing products that deliver on the specifications front, while maintain their VFM factors. Moreover, Bajaj Auto is currently present in certain markets, especially in south east Asia, where Triumph doesn’t have any major presence. This partnership will open the horizons of such markets for the British manufacturer.
On the other hand, Bajaj has yet another international, high-aspiration value brand to its kitty, after KTM and Husqvarna. The Indian automaker will be hugely benefitted with this partnership and will be able to get access to Triumph’s brand positioning, perception, design philosophy and high-capacity models.
Market experts are indicating that this new partnership might as well help Bajaj Auto to pose a potent competition to Royal Enfield, which has been leading the mid-size motorcycle segment in India from the past decade. With 500 – 750 cc motorcycle that is built using expertise of Bajaj and Triumph, Royal Enfield will surely find it difficult to justify the placement of its 500 cc models.
However, the partnership is still in extremely nascent stages. As a result, it is too early to forecast its impact on the Indian motorcycle segment. But no matter what the result is, the Bajaj-Triumph alliance is surely one of the best surprises we have received this year.