Forum

[Alan R]

Sorry SOFIASPIN, yours crept under my radar !!---- Interesting idea there for a modern build "retro-style" British single.. I wonder what names John Bloor has a licence on ??.. Just for the exercise what could be the best price for lets say a 350cc (only because of the lower road tax)in either NORTON or ARIEL badged form ?? OK --------I'll start a new thread for this-----------

[STU]

My money is on RE setting up a wholely owned subsidiary UK distribution arm, just like some of the Japanese companies did in the (I think) 70's.
Then again I could be completely wrong!
Dual Triumph / Enfield dealerships could work though - if there was a financial case for it why not? They are just motorcycle shops after all.

[MadMike]

Stu the problem with the dual dealership is the Triumph business plan and business model is based on having solus dealerships. Harlet did the same and even Ducati do this. So as I see it the dealers exist already, so no mileage there for dealers. The import and distribution is a totally different business model and would need a different company. Otherwise the so called inporter dealer would find himself competing with his own customers at the retail level, and also supplying his competitors with bikes to sell in competition with with his own dealership. No, I suspect that Enfield India will seek out a new partner or set up their own importer/distributor company. They will need to move fast as the WS website syas they gave up their franchise at the beginning of the year! Will supplies of new bikes be continued in the short term?

[Chris [Stockport]]

Just spotted this on BIKE SOCIAL... whatever that is. And does he KNOW who this other importer is???

Royal Enfield - the 100 year old bike manufacturer famous for making bikes in India to old British designs - will not be sold in the UK for the foreseeable future.

The news comes following an announcement that the UK importer, Watsonian Squire, has stopped importing the Indian-built bikes into the UK after 14 years. Watsonian Squire has decided to concentrate on other parts of their business.

The Royal Enfield factory is in talks with another UK importer, so it may not be game over for Royal Enfield fans in the UK yet. We’ll keep you posted.

[Paul]

Just
speculating after some thought...
Though
it seems unlikely that Triumph would be interested in selling RE in
the UK there is a bigger picture to look at. Triumph are expanding
into India - like HD - and the RE dealer network in India is massive
and well organised. There might be an attraction in some reciprocal
deal for Triumph to sell certain of their own models through RE in
India. Even assembly of knock down Triumph bikes in India.
I
can't see many EFI sales in the UK through Triumph dealerships - are
the existing UK dealers selling any, all the dealers seem to be
switching to other marques - but there could be huge sales of
Triumph twins in India, as RE has no comparable product.



It
would be nice to have an importer that can add value to the product,
someone we can trust...BUT...and it's a big but, the pricing and
product need to be attractive to get back to the sales levels pre
Electra. No matter how good the importer is if the product doesn't
have a niche, or isn't perceived as good value or quality in the west
in comparison to other choices, then it simply won't sell in volumes
to keep everyone happy.

[Alan R]

Aye-aye !! Who's a clever clogs then ?? Must say I like the cut'o your jib, sirrah !!-------- That's a very good point though re}--- reciprocal working... I can see the merits in that..

[Norm]

Paul, what a great thought, rebadged Triumphs as RE's in India, bit like rebadged RE's as Indians and sold to Americans

[MadMike]

Rebadging???? Crap idea. Triumph want to sell Triumphs as Triumphs. They have a whole marketing and sales strategy based upon the name, rather like Harley. Knock downs sold in India, again not quite the way they intend to operate. Kits will be shipped from Asia and/or Hinckley for assembly in India. This will reduce shipping costs, import duties and also employ local labour which will get government grants and assistance from the Indian purse. Sorry to put down your ideas but Triumph have already laid out their plans for their Indian production and marketing strategies.

[Norm]

Mike, was a bit of a wind up but there is a lot of people hanging out for an RE big twin to come on the market just because it is an RE. In reality market share would be small

[Paul]

Michael,
I didn't suggest rebadging Enfields, that wouldn't work as there is
loyalty to both brands. I suggested the attraction of a decent
distributor network within India to sell Triumphs. Triumph already
ship certain UK parts for assembly of their bikes in Thailand then
complete bikes are shipped back to the UK and sold as British.




If
the Tweet was correct about Triumph in talks with Enfield then I
speculate that it is the distributor network in India that is
interesting to Trumpet, rather than filling their showrooms with EFI
Bullets.