Royal Enfield’s Leicestershire R&D facility to be ready by 2017

Royal Enfield’s new research and development facility is going to be ready by early 2017. This facility will be responsible for the company’s future range of motorcycles for a global audience.

Royal Enfield started out as a firearms and engine manufacturer more than a century ago. While Royal Enfield’s last British factory shut shop in 1970, the company last year announced plans to open a new research and development facility in Leicestershire. Taking into account the rapidly increasing demand, the Chennai-based manufacturer has earmarked Rs 600 crore for this facility. 

Royal Enfield has ambitious plans to become the leader in the global mid-sized motorcycling segment. While the production capacity has already been ramped up with the expansion of its Chennai facility, this smaller Leicestershire facility will be responsible for developing new global models for the manufacturer. Among the new products will be a new parallel twin platform which will make Royal Enfield a direct rival to other iconic brands like Harley-Davidson and Triumph.