Royal Enfield to launch its 1st Electric Bike C6: Soon to Hit Indian Roads?

Anticipating a better market response, Royal Enfield (RE) may introduce its electric bike in Europe and the US, citing a top company executive, Business Standard reported on Tuesday. 

A division of Eicher Motors, Royal Enfield makes its debut in the electric bike segment on Monday with the launch of its all-new Flying Flea brand. 

According to the report, Eicher Motors CEO and MD Siddharth Lal, the C6 is going to be the first bike of the new brand which might not have India as a market priority. 

“Obviously, it's (India) always important for us. But there are other markets that will probably have better traction first and then over time, India will also have good traction,” citing Lal, the Business Standard reported. However, the Flying Flea-C6 model belonging to the RE garage is set to make its debut on the Indian roads in the next year. The model is likely to be followed by FF-S6.

According to the report, the brand is also seeking to set up an EV manufacturing ecosystem under the roof of its Vallam Vadgal manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu.

After 75 years, the name Flying Flea made a return to the Royal Enfield lineup on Monday. A brand that was a source of pride for the 123-year-old corporation during World War II (WWII) is poised to return in 2025 in a new form, as the company's first-ever electric vehicle (EV), the report added. 

This move is expected to revive and intensify competition in the EV motorbike category, which has failed to gain traction, with just 11,000-11,500 units shipped in 2023. Along with Royal Enfield, the debut of the high-voltage electric motorcycle Raptee in October, aimed at 250-300 cc petrol counterparts, and Ola's unveiling of the Roadster in August have given the electric motorcycle category a boost.