Is Royal Enfield the King of Mid-Range Motorcycles, Outshining Harley, BMW, and KTM? Let's Ride the Statistics!
Harley-Davidson, BMW Motorrad, and KTM face competition from a growing rival in the motorcycle market: Royal Enfield. The Indian company is now challenging this established trio in terms of market share and popularity.
India, you say, is giving the big-name motorcycle manufacturers a run for their money. But is it true that Royal Enfield holds the crown in the motorcycle world, edging out Harley-Davidson, BMW, and KTM? Let's crank up the engine and find out!
When you crunch the numbers based on revenue, Harley-Davidson, BMW, and other top-tier manufacturers dominate. However, if you focus solely on motorcycles and abandon scooters, smaller motorcycles, and irrelevant vehicles, the Indian brand, Royal Enfield, is the undisputed king!
Why so? Well, Kai Petermann, who's in charge of Royal Enfield's distribution in Germany, has an explanation. He points out that they specialize in mid-range motorcycles with engine capacities of 250 to 750cc, and here's where they shine. In the last fiscal year, they produced a staggering 1,009,000 units—that's one million motorcycles! And they're planning to ramp it up even further.
Their lineup consists of four engine series: the single 350cc, two air-cooled engines (440cc and 650cc), a 450cc single-cylinder with liquid cooling, and a new 650cc twin-cylinder. The 450cc liquid-cooled engine was introduced in 2023, and is currently featured in the Himalayan adventure bike and the Naked Bike Guerilla.
Royal Enfield: A Premium Brand in India with a Global Reach
Royal Enfield is thriving in its homeland and is gradually expanding its influence across Asia and the Western world. In Germany, the brand is making its mark: in 2021, it was declared by the VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry) as one of the twelve largest motorcycle brands by volume.
In 2025, Royal Enfield is aiming to strengthen its presence in the twin-cylinder segment with the launch of the Bear 650 and Classic 650. The Bear 650, a scrambler, and the Classic 650, a traditionally-styled motorcycle, will bring the total number of models in their lineup to twelve, each available in various variants and colors.
The cheapest model, the HNTR 350 in the Dapper version, retails for 4,490 euros, while the priciest, the Super Meteor 650 "Celestial", goes for 8,390 euros. The new Bear 650 will cost between 7,640 and 7,890 euros, and the new Classic 650 will retail between 7,090 and 7,390 euros. They're also working on an electric motorcycle, announced last year.
Expanding the Empire: Royal Enfield in Germany
To solidify its position in Germany, Royal Enfield is significantly bolstering its presence by establishing a German subsidiary in the Freiburg area, set to commence operations in the fall. This will mainly coordinate the brand's distribution within Germany, enhancing customer service and sales.
[1] honda.com, kawasaki.com[2] suzuki.com, husqvarna-motorcycles.com[3] royalenfield.com, cntraveler.com[4] motorcycle.com, cnbc.com
- Royal Enfield, despite being challenged by major manufacturers like Harley-Davidson, BMW, and KTM, has emerged as the leader in the mid-range motorcycle market, specializing in vehicles with engine capacities between 250 to 750cc.
- In the last fiscal year, Royal Enfield produced a total of 1,009,000 units, a figure that outshines most of its competitors and cements its position as 'the undisputed king' in the motorcycle industry.
- The subsidiary established in Germany by Royal Enfield is set to improve customer service and sales, strengthening the brand's presence and expanding its influence in the Western world.
- As part of its expansion plans, Royal Enfield is set to launch two new models in the twin-cylinder segment, the Bear 650 and Classic 650, in 2025, increasing their lineup to twelve models, each available in various variants and colors.
