Will Husqvarna bikes be manufactured in India?

Today Bajaj Auto has just released an official statement that it shall is yet to take the decision on Husqvarna brand.

At the moment, Bajaj has the commercial vehicles and KTM – Europe’s biggest motorcycle producer based in Austria.

They are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their partnership this year. The product lines DUKE 125 – 390 and RC 125 – 390 are produced in Bajaj´s production facility in Chakan/India and are distributed by the two partners globally. This has helped to increase the bike’s production and also to reach out to multiple new markets as well. KTM is now focusing a lot more on smaller bikes as they are generating higher volumes and helping them to boost profitability and more importantly sustainability.  

Husqvarna Motorcycles, founded in 1903, is the world’s second oldest motorcycle brand. At the moment, KTM has secured a long-term license agreement in the year 2013. After its new positioning, the volumes have sharply gone up to an all-time high with over 30,000 units sold in 2016. And Bajaj is looking at utilising this brand and to manufacture it here also to increase its production.

Stefan Pierer, CEO of KTM AG and Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto Ltd., decided on the strategy to take Husqvarna Motorcycles brand global and scale up the business multiple times. The first models, Vitpilen 401, Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 701 will be produced in Mattighofen, Austria, and launched in early 2018. Later in 2018, the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 production for the global markets will be transferred to Bajaj’s Chakan factory.

This enlargement of the cooperation to the Husqvarna Motorcycles brand will elevate the partnership between Bajaj and KTM to the next level. The Indian two-wheeler maker is looking at manufacturing it at its Chakan facility and even exporting it to Indonesia. There are plans also to sell it locally as well. The decision hasn’t been taken and the company will announce it very soon.