Remember UM Motorcycles from this year's Auto Expo? Yes, the little-known brand from the United States that specialises in funky-looking, small-capacity motorcycles. News of its imminent arrival have been floating around for a while, and the company's now made it official by announcing a tie-up with Lohia Auto, a producer of electric scooters.
It's a joint venture, this, so each party assumes a 50 per cent stake, with both investing a total of Rs 120 crore in this tie-up. Known as 'UML', this JV will see UM start building its products at Lohia's plant in Kashipur, Uttarakhand, which will be capable of churning out 1,00,000 units a year. Production is set to begin in the second quarter of 2015, so it's safe to say that market launch is still a year away. And yes, this facility will also act as a global export hub for UM.
No word on which product will be offered first, but the company mentions that its first bike will be a cruiser. The Renegade Commando (pictured above) was shown at the Expo this year, and since it's the flagship in UM's cruiser range, it may just be the first UM to go on sale in India.
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