Official: Benelli Motorcycles Ties Up With Mahavir Group

We earlier reported that the Italian bikemaker Benelli will soon be tying up with the Hyderabad-based Mahavir Group. Today, both the companies have confirmed the news with an announcement made at an event held in Hyderabad.

In addition to this, the Italian company has also entered into a memorandum with the Telangana Government to set up its manufacturing plant in Medichal, Hyderabad. The company's manufacturing facility will be completed in two phases. The first phase will be spread over 3 acres and will be operational from October 2018, whereas the second phase will be a much larger setup, sprawling across 20 acres.

As earlier, Benelli motorcycles will be brought to India via the CKD route. However, they will now be assembled at Mahavir group-associated Adishwar Auto Ride India (AARI) and Benelli's plant in Hyderabad. AARI will also help in assembling, manufacturing and importing Benelli motorcycles from Italy and South East Asia. The company is also on the lookout for new dealers across the country while continuing the relationship with its existing dealers.

Speaking on the occasion, George Wang, Director, Benelli, said: "Our partnership with the Telangana Government and Adishwar Auto Ride India reassures our long-term goal and manufacturing of made in India superbikes. India has been the largest producers of two-wheeler in the world and we have witnessed a growing demand across categories including superbike. Over the years, Benelli has gained a leadership position in the Indian superbike segment with a loyal customer base and the introduction of various products from time to time as per the market demand."

Yashwant Jhabakh, Chairman, Mahavir Group, said: "It is indeed a significant moment for us as we spearhead to the next level in the automobile industry, from being a prominent dealer for multiple brands to managing operations of a global brand like Benelli in India. We have eminent skills resources and unmatched experience that will boost Benelli's product strength across the country. With this partnership, we aim to build significant market share for Benelli in the superbike segment in the years to come."

Currently, Benelli has three motorcycles in its Indian portfolio: the TNT 300, 302R and TNT 600i. Sources close to us report that the first motorcycle we will see from this new association will be Benelli’s new scrambler, the Leoncino.

While it's certainly a welcoming news to see Benelli up and running again, it does have a mammoth task ahead catching up with its competitors. We'll keep a close eye on the Italian brand - until then, stay tuned to ZigWheels.