Bajaj and Triumph are all set to announce their formal partnership at an event in Pune on 24th Jan 2020.
Bajaj Auto and Triumph Motorcycles announced a non-equity partnership back in August 2017 but things have been moving slow for the past two years. The most recent news is, the entities are finalizing the finer details of the agreement and a formal announcement is to be made on 24th Jan 2020.
The partnership will focus on medium displacement motorcycles which will be marketed under both Bajaj and Triumph brands depending on the markets. While the British premium motorcycle brand will be taking the lead in R&D department, the Indian two wheeler major will be responsible for manufacturing the new premium products at its Chakan plant near Pune for global consumption.
The collaboration will help Triumph foray into the compact displacement motorcycle segment which is showing promising growth across the world while it will allow Bajaj to move up the ladder with larger engined motorcycles than it currently has in its portfolio.
According to our sources, the Indo-English partnership is working on a 700 cc engine which will power an entry level Triumph and a flagship Bajaj. Details are scarce as of now, but we expect the 700 cc engine to go on-board an Avenger.
The Bajaj Avenger brand has been enjoying great popularity among cruiser enthusiasts and urban youth alike. Regular updates, sporty design and attractive pricing. Currently, the cruiser is available in 180 cc and 220 cc variants and this means, there is plenty of room for a bigger displacement motorcycle.
An aggressively priced Bajaj Avenger 700 would be an interesting proposition which would cover a wide range of mid-premium motorcycles in the market like the Harley Davidson Street 750 and Royal Enfield 650 Twins. Given that the Avenger family’s design language is widely acclaimed, we don’t think Bajaj will fiddle too much with it but a high-power variant will employ sturdier frame, stronger suspension system, beefier tyres and upgraded brakes.
The new 700 cc engine architecture would also support a Triumph motorcycle but its too early to speculate on the body style. The new engine in question is expected to be a liquid-cooled two-cylinder unit. It will comply with both Indian and European emission norms and is expected to be heavily localized in India.
It is to be noted that Triumph officials have earlier hinted that the first of the products under the partnership is not expected to be ready before 2022 although some prototypes were built for investigation.
