Report - Royal Enfield to set up third manufacturing plant in Chennai

Annual production capacity to be expanded to 6 lakh units in due course.

As a part of its ongoing ambitious global expansion plan, the country's oldest motorcycle brand Royal Enfield is gearing up to set up its third manufacturing facility, the second in the Oragadam industrial corridor in Chennai.

The company which is owned by Eicher Motors has purchased a 50 acre plot in Vallam Vadakkal which is just 10 km away from its second unit in Oragadam. Royal Enfield's original facility is located at Thiruvottiyur.

According to Mr. Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director and CEO, Eicher Motors, the proposed third plant will prepare the company for future expansion to meet the growing demand of RE motorcycles worldwide. The two wheeler maker is planning to expand its annual production capacity from 3 lakh units to 4 lakh units (Thiruvottiyur and Oragadam plants combined) in 2015.

With the addition of the Vallam Vadakal plant, the capacity would be expanded to 6 lakh units per year eventually. He did not disclose the investment or timeframe for the third plant.

Royal Enfield hires ex-Harley global sales head as MD of North American operations

In a move to ramp up its product development capability, Royal Enfield has appointed renowned motorcycle designer Mr. Pierre Terblanche as the new head of design. Mr. Terblanche has penned some popular premium motorcycles like the Ducati Multistrada, Hypermotard, Confederate Hellcat X132 Roadster, etc.

[Source: The Hindu]