Royal Enfield is preparing to unveil a new range of electric motorcycles - a first for the two-wheeler major - on November 4 at the EICMA exhibition in Italy this week.
Royal Enfield's website says this new category of electric two-wheelers from Royal Enfield answers the call for "urban mobility offering a sophisticated, nimble and connected experience." The RE also assured its customers that even with technological advances, the brand's "commitment to purity remains".
The teaser on the website shows a bike airlifted by a parachute, ready for a drop, with November 4, 2024 date mentioned along with it. The reference to paradropping of the bike has a strong historical connect with World War II that saw Allied forces deploy motorcycles via parachute, for troops needing fast, mobile transportation upon landing. Called 'The Royal Enfield Flying Flea', the lightweight motorcycle developed during World War II for this purpose was later sold to civilians after the war. It remains to be seen if Royal Enfield will revive the brand name with its launch this week.
During FY24, Royal Enfield accelerated its EV journey with a product plan and a roadmap, and had shared plans to build a strategy for electric motorcycles, including branding and distribution. A design concept was showcased at last year's EICMA Motor Show - the Electric Himalayan Testbed - revealing what a future electric offering from the company could look like.
"Electric Himalayan Test Bed has opened up completely new possibilities and capabilities," Royal Enfield has said, adding that it the concept "shall continue to live a hard life, not going into production". It is not clear if the implies further testing to lay the foundation for its new range of electric two-wheelers. The Electric Himalayan Testbed is the Royal Enfield's sustainable vision for the future, and marks a first such e-2W from the stable in its 123 years of history.
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The company is betting on a future that will see both ICE and electric vehicles co-exist, Eicher Motors CMD Siddarth Lal had said in July. "Electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and internal combustion engines will need to coexist over the coming years. Our success will depend on strategically balancing our portfolio to serve existing markets while remaining agile to adapt to change. Both Royal Enfield and VECV are well-positioned to navigate this transition."
Lal had said in the past that RE's EVs will be disruptive, and said the company is aiming for a 2025 launch. "It's not about putting something in (and) hoping to take some other competition head on or improving on them. It's a totally different paradigm that we're working towards in terms of EVs. It takes time to put together something really fantastic,” Lal said.
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