The 400cc cruiser will be competing against the offerings from Royal Enfield but will come with several safety features including disc brakes and ABS.
American two-wheeler maker UM Motorcycles made its Indian debut at the 2014 Auto Expo showcasing a range of products right from naked to cruiser motorcycles that will eventually be launched in India. Soon after, UM tied up with Indian manufacturer Lohia in a 50:50 joint venture and will soon commence retailing its bikes in the country. Termed as ‘UML’ for the Indian market, the two-wheeler maker has now confirmed that it will be launching a 400cc cruiser motorcycle in the Indian market as its flagship offering in the second quarter of this year and it will be a fairly advanced unit compared to the competition.
Designed from scratch, the new 400cc cruiser from UML will come with advanced safety features like disc brakes as well as ABS and will be manufactured at Lohia’s facility in Kashipur, Uttarakhand. The company plans to initially launch a couple of its existing models in the country and will add a new model to its portfolio in every six months. The American automaker plans to make India its hub to manufacturer high-displacement engines and will be exporting the new 400cc cruiser to markets overseas. The company also confirmed that it will not launch models beyond 500cc in India.
UML’s cruiser motorcycle to be launched is the Renegade Commando that was showcased at the Auto Expo and is powered by a 223cc engine. The power figures and prices though are yet to be disclosed and will be available closer to the launch. The new models will be pitted against the Bajaj Avenger and mainly offerings from Royal Enfield, however, the quality of parts remains a point of concern for the less known brand. UML is also looking to open dealerships in the western and southern regions of India and aims to have 75 dealers across 50 cities in the country by July 2015.
Source – AutocarIndia.com