Forum

[MadMike]

What makes anybody even begin to think that they are intending to build bikes in the UK? The statement in their annual report and their press release says that they are intending to set up a new Technology Centre in Chennai on what is in real terms a relatively small site. This will be ready in 2016. Additionally they have announced that they will set up "a satellite Technology Centre" in Leicestershire in 2015. This will probably be a design and development set up, possible bearing in mind the time frames in an existing technology parl. I guess they may want to use British design and engineering expertise for the next generation of bikes. There is after all a plethora of motor industry, and motorcycle industry, design and engineering expertise in and around Leicestershire plus MIRA is on the doorstep. They plan to increase their production from around 300,000 to 450,000 units at the same time as part of their long term strategy of being a true global leader in the supply of Mid-size bikes. Way to go chaps.

[BobF]

Agree with MadMike. Probably not a coincidence that Hinckley (Triumph) is also in Leicestershire.

[Presto]

Some of these comments remind me of the dismissive comments we used to hear from British industry boffins (and not a few riders of British bikes) in the late 50’s, early 60’s about the Japanese motorcycle industry. ‘History teaches us that history teaches us nothing’!

[papasmurf]

Rustygman, a factory set up in Britain with cutting edge technology, would use very few man hours per machine to manufacture. Wage rates are not an issue.
The other factor is even then how much of a machine would be manufactured in Britain anyway.
My Electra X(ish) appears to have tyres made in Korea, (Continental), the handle-bar bits and pieces are the same as Yamaha, micro-switches appear to be Chinese, the electronic bits and pieces appear to be either Denso, or bits I can replace with German made components.

[Presto]

There's no chance of Enfields being made in the UK. Design is another matter(and R & D possibly), but not manufacturing.

[wilf]

This can't just be a coincidence. Guy Martin goes to India for a couple of weeks, and the next thing you know, he's talked Royal Enfield into opening a factory not too far away from where he lives.He's certainly got the gift of the gab.

[thumpthis]

A computer on a table in someones bedroom and internet connection is what it all amounts to.

[Presto]

Thumpthis - is that all it takes to produce 500,000 bikes a year?

[thumpthis]

Right, forgot the crayons, some construction paper, safety scissors, and some paste perhaps....

[Paul M H]

Quote (((Fantastic news. If someone could explain the economic sense of moving some production to england with our much higher wage and overall costs I would be interested in any theories. Could it be an indicator of a more premium product to be assembled for Europe and America perhaps or would that just be wishful thinking?))

Simple answer Europe Its why Japan and other country's build there cars here so they can sell into Europe and the European market without restrictions as India is not in the EU.