Philipp von Sahr, head of BMW Group India, has admitted that aspects of a sub-500cc motorcycle platform currently undergoing joint development by BMW Motorrad and Indian bike manufacturer TVS could eventually appear in BMW’s European dealerships as an entry-level offer.
Following an agreement announced in April this year, TVS and BMW began to develop a smaller-capacity project on broadly similar lines to KTM’s relationship with Bajaj Auto for the 125-390cc Duke range and associated Bajaj-branded products. Each company would then sell individual versions of the bikes through their own distribution channels in India.
KTM already ships Indian-made machines to Europe and elsewhere but, to date, BMW hadn’t revealed a parallel marketing strategy. However, such a move would fit in with its recent realignment towards two-wheeled mobility solutions rather than a narrow focus on the leisure/enthusiast sector.
“We are looking forward to developing a motorbike which is for TVS on the higher end and for BMW on the lower end,” said Sahr. “Maybe also, in the long term, we also want to export such bikes.”