[visordown.com] - Royal Enfield to open British factory

[Ninjette Newsbot]

ROYAL Enfield is to open a new factory in Leicestershire as part of plans to meet rising global demand for its originally British-made bikes.

The Indian-based company aims to spend 5bn Indian rupees (£52m) on expansion plans, including a new factory in the UK by the end of 2015.

A second new factory is to open in Chennai, southern India, by the middle of 2016.

The marque has its origins in Britain, with motorcycles produced in England from 1901 until 1970, including the Bullet, derivatives of which are still made under licence in India.

The marque lays claims to being the world's oldest continuously manufactured motorcycle brand.

Announcing the firm's plans, Chief Executive Siddhartha Lal said: ‘Royal Enfield continues to grow at a phenomenal pace and this year we have achieved our best ever sales of over 300,000 units. In 2015, we plan to manufacture 450,000 units.

'With a view to become the leader in the global mid-sized motorcycling, Royal Enfield will build two new technology centers. The larger one will be at a new 4.5 acre property that we have acquired on Old Mahabalipuram Road in Chennai, and will be operational by Q2 2016; a smaller satellite center is being set up in Leicestershire, UK, and will be operational by the end of 2015.'

Visordown revealed last week the firm had trademarked the name ‘Himalayan’ amid rumours a new adventure model is on the way.

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