BMW Motorrad - TVS Motor Company Agreement

Crawling slowly up the cubic displacement chain, the Apache has delighted and frustrated enthusiasts at the same time. The potential of the chassis has for long been lauded by enthusiasts on road and on track and automotive forums have always been clamouring for higher displacement. It has taken a while, and more than a 6% slide in market share over the last financial year, but the tide is set to turn finally with a new agreement signed today between BMW Motorrad and TVS Motor Company where the companies have agreed to jointly develop motorcycles below 500cc.

The press release mentions that the various stages through to the finished serial production motorcycle will be planned by both partners but implemented with different focus areas on each side leveraging the strengths of both companies. It has been stressed that while the motorcycles will have the same underlying technology, both companies will have their own derivatives of the common platform, which they intend to sell through their own distribution channels in India and across the globe.

“With BMW Motorrad, we see an ideal long-term strategic partner who shares our core values: focus on quality, engineering prowess, innovation and customer satisfaction. We intend to leverage each other’s strengths to deliver a new series of products offering cutting edge technology for our customers,” said Venu Srinivasan, Chairman TVS Motor Company.

Stephan Schaller, President BMW Motorrad said “In view of changing motorcycle markets, demographic developments and increasing environmental demands we are expanding our product range so as to tap into fresh growth potential. We have a highly expert and experienced partner in the TVS Motor Company. This means that in future we will be able to offer vehicles in smaller capacity classes in addition to the BMW Motorrad core segments. Various types of motorcycle are conceivable. They will meet the expectations of a BMW motorcycle in terms of riding fun as well as setting a new benchmark when it comes to stability, agility and performance figures. I regard this long-term cooperation as an important step along the road to profitable, sustainable growth.”

TVS shares saw a dramatic 17% increase in its share price today with the hope of this possible agreement.