The iconic and prestigious Indian motorcycle brand, Royal Enfield, is now being assembled in Bangladesh. On Monday afternoon, the official Facebook page of Royal Enfield Bangladesh will unveil four models of motorcycles—Hunter, Bullet, Classic, and Meteor—each equipped with a 350cc engine and assembled in Chauddagram, Cumilla. The sole manufacturer and distributor of Royal Enfield in Bangladesh, Ifad Motors, will begin accepting pre-bookings at its Tejgaon showroom starting from Monday afternoon. Customers can expect to receive their desired motorcycle within 45 days of placing an order.
According to various Indian test riders, these bikes offer better mileage than carbureted engines. They estimate that the motorcycles will achieve around 30 kilometers per liter on long-distance rides. Among the four models, the Hunter is expected to be the most affordable, with an estimated price of BDT 400,000. The Bullet and Classic models will be priced below BDT 500,000, while the most expensive model, Meteor, will be priced above BDT 500,000.
It has been revealed that instead of fully importing the motorcycles, Ifad Motors has established local production by assembling specific components, including the chassis, in Bangladesh. This allows the company to bypass the 152% import duty typically levied on imported motorcycles, and instead pay less than 40% in taxes for locally assembled bikes. To take advantage of this opportunity, Ifad Motors set up a plant in Chauddagram, Cumilla, utilizing local technology to manufacture these world-class motorcycles.
Notably, on September 7, 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs authorized the sale of motorcycles up to 350cc in Bangladesh. Following this decision, brands like Bajaj, Honda, Yamaha, and Royal Enfield began preparations to introduce higher-capacity bikes in the country. However, as per government regulations, these higher-cc motorcycles must be assembled locally, with several components produced within Bangladesh. Complying with these rules, Royal Enfield entrusted Ifad Autos with the responsibility of manufacturing, engine assembly, and distribution of their motorcycles in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, in November of last year, Uttara Motors introduced the Bajaj N250, a high-performance motorcycle, priced at approximately BDT 340,000. By the end of June this year, the company had sold over 730 units of the N250. Subsequently, Hero launched the 210cc Karishma XMR earlier this year, priced at around BDT 400,000, with nearly 700 units sold by the end of June. Additionally, Honda recently introduced the 180cc Hornet in the market, priced at approximately BDT 290,000.
