UM Motorcycles – the Indian arm of the American motorcycle maker, UM International, LLC along with Lohia Auto has finally entered India today. UM Motorcycles in JV with Lohia Auto launched its much-awaited cruiser range ‘Renegade’ in 3 variants: Renegade Commando, Renegade Sport S and Renegade Classic at the Auto Expo 2016 today. Mr. Rajeev Mishra, Director -UML, Mr. Juan Villegas, Global Director – Business Development, UM International, LLC, Mr. Ayush Lohia, Director – UML and Bollywood actor and motorbike enthusiast, Mr. Karan Singh Grover were present for the launch.
Talking about UM Motorcycles’ foray in India, Mr. Rajeev Mishra, Director – UML, said, “Seeing the potential of India as a giant motorcycle market, we are confident of not only steaming up the competition but also taking a decent chunk of the market. Our innovative products with an exhilarating design and embedded with the latest technology at an affordable price tag are an absolute novelty in the Indian market. For consumers who want something different, we have brought the perfect answer for them through our Renegade series of motorcycles. We are extremely excited to finally open stores in India and our products will be available in 50 dealerships across India to start with.”
The Renegade Commando is a low-slung cruiser powered by a 279 cc single-cylinder water-cooled engine developing 25 bhp at 8,500 rpm and 21.8 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm, mated to a six-speed transmission. The motorcycle comes with wide handlebars and hydraulic telescopic front suspension and spring rear suspension, which is ideal for a cruiser-segment motorcycle. The Renegade Commando will be available at INR 1.59 lakhs across all showrooms in India (ex-showroom New Delhi).
The Renegade Sport S model and Renegade Classic will also share the same engine as the Renegade Commando. The Renegade Sport S was much appreciated when it was showcased at the 2015 EICMA in Milan. The Renegade Commando and its sibling Renegade Sport S come with an electric start and have an air filter with paper element innovation. Six-speed synchronized mesh has been added for easy cruising. The front wheel has telescopic suspension while the rear wheel has dual shock absorbers. These motorcycles have a fuel tank of 18 litres with a kerb weight of 172 kg. The Renegade Sport S and the Renegade Classic are available at INR 1.49 lakhs and INR 1.69 lakhs respectively across India (ex-showroom New Delhi).
Mr. Juan Villegas, Global Director – Business Development, UM International, LLC said, “There is a huge liking for cruisers in India, yet many are not available in the price range of INR 1.5 to 2 lakhs. With the Renegade cruiser lineup, we aim to close this gap and give people an opportunity to ride an affordable yet premium American product customized especially for the Indian roads in terms of ground clearance, wheelbase, suspension and seat amidst other changes. We are not only coming in with a unique proposition in India but also a unique product with unmatched style and quality.”
“There is going to be some serious competition now in the mid-segment motorcycle industry. The competition is going to steam up with UM Motorcycles entering the market and I am confident that the globally appreciated Renegade range of cruiser bikes are going to win the hearts of motorcycle fans and enthusiasts in India as well. I wish UM Motorcycles all the very best and hope to see more and more people cruising on the streets on these amazing motorcycles of automotive excellence,” added Mr. Karan Singh Grover, Bollywood actor.
“We have worked tirelessly to bring UM Motorcycles into India. We know that the market is ripe for its sublime products and are confident that our manufacturing expertise along with the innovation that goes into these motorcycles, Indian consumers are going to be delighted throughout the country. We promise to deliver on the global sales experience that UM International is known for,” added Mr. Ayush Lohia, Director – UML.
UM International in alliance with the UP-based Lohia Auto has invested Rs 250 crore for business expansion. Manufacturing is already underway at the Lohia Auto’s Kashipur facility in Uttarakhand which will also support the Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Headquartered out of New Delhi in India, the company has started appointing dealers across India. This distribution network will continue to expand taking in tier 2 and tier 3 cities and towns going forward. Bookings for the Renegade series have opened at the Auto Expo 2016.
