Independent distributor MotoGB of Chorley, Lancashire, has been appointed UK distributor for Royal Enfield. MotoGB takes over from Watsonian-Squire which began Royal Enfield imports in 1999 and held the distributorship until last month when a statement was issued saying Watsonian was relinquishing the concession to concentrate on sidecar and trailer manufacture.
MotoGB general manager Steve Oliver is now appealing for existing and former Royal Enfield dealers to get in touch. He also seeks new dealers for the Indian-made singles.
“We want Royal Enfield dealers past and present to call us now in order that we might provide the very best levels of support,” he said. “We will also be looking to appoint pro-active dealers in many areas.”
Royal Enfield’s sales and marketing senior vice-president Shaji Koshy added: “The UK is a key market for Royal Enfield. We are confident that MotoGB will provide a strong fillip to Royal Enfield’s growth curve. Royal Enfield has witnessed a huge surge in demand the world over and recorded growth of over 50 per cent year-on-year for the last couple of years.”
While sales of Royal Enfield, an Eicher Group company, have been expanding worldwide, UK sales have been falling. MotoGB’s task is to reverse this trend.
The acquisiton of Royal Enfield bring’s the MotoGB import concession up to eight marques. Among them is LML, manufacturer of Vespa style two and four-stroke scooters, which are also made in India. MotoGB acquired the LML concession in February 2013 and thus becomes the only UK distributor handling Indian-made two-wheel product.
MotoGB also distinguishes itself by being the company with the most number of brands on its books in the UK.
Full story, plus details of other brand moves, in the April 2013 issue of British Dealer News magazine.