TVS Motor Company on Friday announced its foray into development and sale of bike riding gear, including helmets, jackets, boots and backpacks.
“Riding culture is gaining prominence in India. We believe the launch of ‘TVS Racing Performance Gear’ will promote riders to ride responsibly and safely,” Sudarshan Venu, joint managing director, TVS Motor Company, said at the company’s MotoSoul 2019 event.
TVS Motor would compete with the likes of Royal Enfield and BMW in this segment. The gear will be available in two categories — Riding Gear, which will include helmets, jackets, pants, gloves, and boots and Urban/Casual Wear segment which will include t-shirts, rain wear, casual boots, back packs, caps and sunglasses. The prices start at ₹600 for the caps, going up to ₹5,750 for riding jackets.
The company will not manufacture the products itself but has partnered with at least seven companies for the same. It will, however, do the R&D for these products and provide specifications to the firms based on riders’ feedback, Meghashyam Dighole, head (marketing), premium motorcycles, TVS Motor Company, said at the sidelines of the event.
“...the products will be manufactured in India. For merchandise, India is anyway a big supplier to the world. We have a big focus of developing in India. However, in cases where an accessory is exclusively available outside India, we will go there. We want to bring best of everything to offer our customers,” Mr. Dighole said. He added that the company will also look at exporting these products.
Mr. Dighole said that company sees a “big opportunity” in the segment.
“It is not only a TVS biker who is going to wear our gear. Out target is every biker. If you see, there is hardly any good quality merchandise available across India. And of those available, most are not designed to fit Indian driving conditions,” heMr. Dighole said.
He added that TVS Motor did extensive studies in various cities by talking to different riders to understand their needs.
The products will be sold across TVS Motor dealerships in India, besides on its own online portal.
The company is also in discussions with various e-commerce platforms for the sale of the newly-launched riding gear.
(The correspondent was in Goa at the invitation of the company)
