Royal Enfield back in the UK

Royal Enfield have confirmed that they have given the green light to the development of a new technology centre to be based in Leicestershire, which is intended to support the brand’s long term product strategy. The UK centre will focus on R&D in partnership with a larger tech centre based in Chennai, while there are no plans at this stage for any manufacturing to take place at the new site.

Speaking about the announcement, Siddhartha Lal, managing director and CEO of Eicher Motors Limited, said: “Royal Enfield continues to grow at a phenomenal pace and this year we have achieved our best ever sales of over 300,000 units. In 2015, we plan to manufacture 450,000 units.

“With a view to becoming the leader in the global mid-sized motorcycling, Royal Enfield will build two new technology centers. The larger will be at a new 4.5 acre property that we have acquired on Old Mahabalipuram Road in Chennai, and will be operational by Q2 2016; a smaller satellite center is being set up in Leicestershire, UK, and will be operational by the end of 2015. These technology centres will significantly enhance our capability to execute our long term product strategy.

“Our immediate business outlook is strong and we will be investing £50 million in 2015 in all strategic areas for long term growth”

The firm is already well underway with recruiting key staff from the UK to help drive this venture, including ex-Triumph staff. Most significantly, it gives the firm a hotbed of talent based in the spiritual home of the firm which left these shores for India way back in 1956, and saw the complete closure of the UK business in 1971.