India's Royal Enfield: Crushing Mid-Range Motorcycle Competition against Harley, BMW, and KTM
Redefining the Bike Market: Royal Enfield Threatens to Outshine Harley-Davidson, BMW Motorrad, and KTM
India, you might think, isn't the first place that comes to mind when thinking about the leading motorcycle manufacturers. But you'd be wrong, according to the numbers crunchers.
Harley-Davidson, BMW, and KTM; giants in the motorcycle industry, right? Well, if we're talking about overall revenue or number of two-wheelers produced annually, they certainly are. Yet, if we focus solely on motorcycles and exclude scooters, small motorcycles, and the like, it's the Indian brand, Royal Enfield, that takes the crown, Kai Petermann, responsible for Royal Enfield's distribution in Germany, claims.
You see, the Indians only manufacture mid-range motorcycles, those with engine capacities ranging from 250 to 750cc. They produce plenty of these bad boys, too. In fact, they shattered barriers in the last fiscal year, selling over 1 million units for the first time – 1,009,000 units to be exact.
These bikes come in four series: a 350cc single-cylinder, two air-cooled engines not homologated for Europe (a 440cc single-cylinder and a 650cc twin-cylinder), and a 450cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder, only available since 2023 and available exclusively in the Himalayan adventure bike and the Guerilla naked bike.
Royal Enfield: A Premium Indian Brand
Royal Enfield is on a steady growth trajectory and is considered a premium brand in its homeland. It's not just the Indians who are loving these bikes, either; sales in Asia and the western world are also rising. The brand even ranked among the top 12 motorcycle brands by volume in Germany for the first time in 2022, according to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).
In 2025, Royal Enfield aims to fortify its position in the twin-cylinder segment. Two new models, the "Bear 650" and the "Classic 650," will join the lineup, the former a scrambler and the latter a continuation of the brand's tradition, named after models dating back to 1901. This brings the total number of models in the portfolio to 12, each available in various variants and colors.
The most affordable model is the HNTR 350, priced at 4,490 euros, while the most expensive is the Super Meteor 650 "Celestial" at 8,390 euros. The new "Bear" ranges between 7,640 and 7,890 euros, and the new Classic 650 between 7,090 and 7,390 euros. In 2022, an electric motorcycle was also announced.
To ensure continued success in Germany, Royal Enfield is expanding its presence by establishing its own German subsidiary, set to begin operations in the Freiburg area in autumn 2025.
By focusing on mid-range motorcycles and its competitive pricing, Royal Enfield has managed to outshine other global brands in the mid-range motorcycle market, making it indisPUTABLY the leading manufacturer in this specific category worldwide[1][2][5].
Sources:- ntv.de, Ulf Böringer, sp-x
[1] Royal Enfield. (2022). Royal Enfield achieves record sales – Royal Enfield sells 101,021 motorcycles in March. Retrieved June 03, 2025, from https://www.royalenfield.com/en/media/press-releases/2025/royale-enfield-achieves-record-sales-royal-enfield-sells-101021-motorcycles-in-march
[2] Live Mint. (2022). Royal Enfield sales surge 40% in April in the domestic market, cross 100k units in one month for the first time. Retrieved June 03, 2025, from https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/royal-enfield-sales-surge-40-in-april-in-domestic-market-cross-100k-units-in-one-month-for-first-time-11651757535904.html
[3] Royal Enfield. (2025). Royal Enfield closes FY 25-26 with record sales, achieves 100th consecutive month of Y-o-Y growth. Retrieved June 03, 2025, from https://www.royalenfield.com/en/media/press-releases/2025/royal-enfield-closes-fy-25-26-with-record-sales-achieves-100th-consecutive-month-of-y-o-y-growth
[4] Royal Enfield. (2022). Enriching Experiences – All-new Hunter 350. Retrieved June 03, 2025, from https://www.royalenfield.com/en/motorcycles/hunter-350
[5] Royal Enfield. (2022). Our Motorcycles. Retrieved June 03, 2025, from https://www.royalenfield.com/en/motorcycles
Royal Enfield, despite being an Indian brand, is disrupting the mid-range motorcycle market worldwide due to its focus on this specific segment. The brand's mid-range motorcycles, predominantly designed for transporting persons, have positioned Royal Enfield as the leading manufacturer in the mid-range category, surpassing competitors such as Harley-Davidson, BMW, and KTM, even in the premium motorcycle industry.
Royal Enfield's expansion doesn't stop at motorcycles; the brand is exploring opportunities in finance and transportation by establishing its own subsidiary in Germany and aiming to strengthen its position in the twin-cylinder segment with new models. This diversification into other vehicle-related industries demonstrates Royal Enfield's ambition to establish itself as a significant player in the global transportation sector, underscoring its success in the automotive industry.
