India emerges as fastest growing market for BMW motorcycles

At present, Germany is the largest market for the two-wheeler maker globally. BMW Motorrad India more-than-doubled sales to 5,191 units last year to inch into the top 10 markets for the company. As much as 90% of the sales came from the two motorcycles the German auto maker has developed with

– BMW G 310 R and BMW G 310 GS.

“If we look at two-wheeler sales above 500 cc, the market size is likely to grow marginally or remain stable at about one million units. Our internal studies show the market for two-wheelers below 500 cc is expected to increase to 60 million units by 2026. This is where India will play a significant role (in boosting our volumes mid-term)”, Markus Mueller-Zambre, Head of Region Asia, China, Pacific & Africa) at BMW Motorrad, told ET.
Mueller-Zambre was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of BMW G 310 RR priced at Rs 2.85 lakh and Rs 2.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The motorcycle is the third to be developed jointly by BMW Motorrad and cooperation partner TVS Motor Company. The vehicle is being manufactured at the latter’s manufacturing facility in Hosur (Tamil Nadu), along with BMW G 310 R and BMW G 310 GS.

Mueller-Zambre said there is an increasing demand for mid-range motorcycles in countries like India, China and Latin America. “Indian market is now eye-to-eye with Japan. There is a lot of potential in the market here”, said he.

As regards electric vehicles, Mueller-Zambre said the company is looking at bringing its latest electric scooter CE 04 to the country. He, however, declined to share a timeline for launch.

Separately, work is also on to develop, manufacture and export electric vehicles from India, along with TVS Motor Company. In Dec 2021, TVS Motor Company and the BMW Group expanded their 9-year-old alliance in a bid to penetrate deeper into the fast-growing electric vehicle space. The first product on the platform is likely to be ready in the next 24 months.