this one's a sound news for we customers ............. and the Indian 2-wheeler Industry ............ let's hope for some good and serious stuff considering the Indian Conditions with a sprinkled flavor of BMW beneath.

If TVS lauches BOXER then Bajaj will again sue TVS for copylng :-DIf this tie up grows stronger then we can expect a lot good products.

wow, wonderful news......superb......

i will say, 3-5 years down the line, biking scene in india will be rocking...

btw, i couldn't understand the deal completely, so these new bikes will be built by TVS, and developed jointly, but the question remains, will they be sold as TVS or BMW ....???

I am dying to see some Shaft drive bikes and Diesel engines. I hope BMW does it for India as well.

Most likely to be sold as BMW as they have mentioned about maintaining their quality, or perhaps like the KTM Bajaj, there will be both a BMW bike as well as a TVS version of the same.

lets see in how many years does this turns into reality!

Cool This is,

However, this is not exactly like Bajaj- KTM deal.
When a KTM bike (from D125 to RC8R) is sold anywhere in the world Bajaj is making profit as they hold 47% stake in KTM. This makes a big difference in the way the deal works.
This relation lifted Bajaj from possible trouble to a commanding position again, Meanwhile KTM achieved some really nice things.

Whatever may be the case this TVS deal is very beneficial for our market and industry.

+1 for shaft-driven bikes. But diesel engines?

As they have mentioned that TVS will be building bikes for BMW's worldwide market, I guess both the brands will co-exist and TVS will make the low-end bikes with better techknow from BMW, while BMW will sell the high-end bikes made by TVS under it's own brand.

those asymmetric lines and curves ...is what is beautiful....about beautiful..

razor sharp designs... way diffrent from other folks.. that what makes it one out of the bunch...

Great news to hear, with the collaboration of TVS with BMW, we hope to see better bikes than what the TVS companies are giving out right now and also we hope to see a RTR 250 or so in the near future as rumored by few. . . Waiting for the new bikes that are on the way. . . Good luck. . .

ONw suzuki is not good enough for TVS,
BMW is to high end for TVS,
I wish its like KTM_BAJAJ

Wooohoooooooo!!!! this is what I've been dying to hear!!! As a die hard TVS fan and an RTR180 owner, I was very disappointed with the recent 2012 model. I was hoping for a more powerful bike but we got a cosmetic puffed up bike, tho looks are subjective, with minor engine improvements.. I hope this time they do it right and blow the market away! Hoping for an enduro/adventure F800/R1200GS younger sibling!! An RTR250 would also be mindblasting!! I'm saving up for 2015!

Way to go.. !! Hope TVS goes the Bajaj way, Manufaturing lower end BMW bikes in India(like the Duke 200) and not manufacture TVS bikes with shades of BMW mechanics (200 NS) !!..

TEXT: Avinash Noronha/ The Monk

TVS Motor Company and BMW Motorrad signed a long term – cooperation agreement in Chennai on 8^th April 2013.



After months of speculation and awaiting this tie-up, TVS finally announced that it has entered into a technological partnership with BMW to manufacture 500cc and below bikes for the Indian and Global market.

At present there is no duration for the agreement and the companies will develop motorcycles together as long as it is viable for both the companies. The bikes are expected to be showcased by 2015. Though the Chairman was tight-lipped about what can be expected in terms of model range and targeted segments.



TVS Chairman Srinivasan mentioned that TVS is already building 250cc motorcycles, while BMW President Schaller spoke about the technological prowess that the Bavarian company has in the larger capacity bikes. It is therefore expected that the bikes that will be developed, will be in the range of 250-500cc. Probably around 400cc.

In a bid to utilise the strengths of both companies, the motorcycles will be probably designed by BMW and produced in India by TVS. Though the distribution of the two will be through their respective dealers, i.e. TVS will sell around the world in TVS showrooms and BMW through BMW showrooms. The cooperation between the two companies is essentially for technology in the medium capacity motorcycles. Currently, other aspects like sale, distribution etc. is to be completely separate.

The bikes when developed will be basically of two types. One for BMW and the other for TVS. With BMW selling premium bikes with additional features, while TVS will sell it at a cheaper price. Something akin to the Bajaj-KTM Pulsar 200 and Duke 200. This is good way of cost cutting for the premium brand and technology for the lower end model. KTM plans to do something similar with its off-road range of motorcycles under the Husqvarna, KTM and Husaberg range of motorcycles. The motorcycles will share the same platform but will be differentiated sufficiently to not cannibalise each other’s sales. Currently, development work has not begun. So it will be a big achievement to come out with completely new products within just 2 years.

TVS Motor Company will be making an investment of around 20 million Euros over the next two years from internal accruals. This investment will be done for the BMW-TVS deal. BMW as policy does not give out figures of their investments. There will be no purchase/sale of stakes in either of the two companies. So TVS will be independent to pursue its plans without any interference from BMW.

TVS will be manufacturing the motorcycles in India for both themselves and BMW. But the motorcycles will be sold and distributed and badged separately. The volumes that TVS-BMW are aiming for were not revealed.

BMW went to great pains to explain that the company will ensure quality at all costs. The bikes will not compromise on quality at all and will keep to the reputation that the marque has built. As such, the BMW bikes will continue to be sold at a premium over its competitors.

BMW had 5 years earlier bought the Husqvarna brand from the Castiglioni family. Since then, they poured in millions of Euros in the brand. They even built an all new R&D facility for the brand. Finally, this January they sold the brand to KTM CEO Stefan Pierer. Husqvarna has motorcycles from 50cc Minicross bikes to 900cc street bikes. With BMW having owned Husky for 5 years, the Bavarian company might already have a foot in the door, when it comes to technological knowhow of smaller capacity bikes, which makes it possible to develop the TVS-BMW bikes in just 2 years.

Stephan Schaller, President BMW Motorrad -



Venu Srinivasan, Chairman TVS Motor Company -

When did that happen??