Upcoming Benelli motorcycles for this year will include BS6 versions of its 302R, TRK 502, Imperiale 400 and others. COVID-19 has impacted plans!
Benelli, in its earlier partnership with Pune-based DSK group created quite a lot of stir. However, with DSK’s bankruptcy things went abrupt and unclear. However, Benelli was quick to form a new alliance with Hyderabad’s Mahavir Group and the re-entry has been fairly smooth till now.
In a conversation with a web portal, Benelli India’s MD Vikas Jhabakh revealed his plans for this year. He says that ideally they were to be ready with the Bharat Stage 6 motorcycles by now, however, the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has rattled a lot of their plans. The lockdown has thrown two months out of the window.
However, he says that he is using this time to regroup and restrategise about the company’s plans for India. The very young Vikas reveals that once the lockdown gets over, the company will start launching BS6 motorcycles. He says,
Post lockdown, we will replenish our product portfolio with BS6 upgrades and may be, in 2021 we will explore the idea of bringing completely new models.
This suggests that Benelli will first focus on getting back into the business as it can not sell its older motorcycles as they do not adhere to the strict Bharat Stage 6 norms which were enforced from 1st April 2020.
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Prior to this, Benelli had built up a considerably comprehensive lineup of motorcycles which included..
- Streetfighters – TNT 600i & TNT 300
- Faired Sports – 302R
- Adventure Touring – TRK 502X, TRK 502
- Scrambler – Leoncino 250, Leoncino 500
- Classic – Imperiale 400
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That is quite a versatile portfolio and to be ready with so many motorcycles in their updated avatars, will itself take a lot of time.
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Vikas has also confirmed that Imperiale 400 will be the first motorcycle to go on sale. We have discussed it here. Once the motorcycles that are going to the new regime are introduced, Benelli will consider bringing in the all-new models from its international lineup.
Source – Xbhp