Apart from this, TVS also plans to introduce 450cc Norton bikes, and even a new electric scooter
Quick News Highlights
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TVS is working on its own motorcycle based on BMW Motorrad’s new 450cc parallel-twin platform
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TVS-owned Norton will also make use of this platform for its own range of bikes
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The company also plans to launch a new electric scooter by the end of this financial year (by March 2026)
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Prices of the iQube range may increase soon, due to issues with supply chain
In a recent interview with CNBC-TV18, TVS Motor MD Sudarshan Venu has revealed that the brand has several products planned for the near future. We could see a 450cc supersport (perhaps called the TVS Apache RR 450), a new electric scooter, and more. He has also addressed the possibility of increase in prices that could happen in its EV range (and possibly across the EV space), due to recent geopolitical issues. Here’s everything you need to know:
In the interview he said that the brand’s partnership with BMW Motorrad started with the 310 platform and expanded into the EV space. BMW had recently unveiled the new 450 twin-platform at EICMA 2024, and Sudarshan Venu said, “….and you will see Norton and TVS versions using similar platform”.
We think the first new TVS bike to come out of the twin platform will likely be a faired supersport. This approach will be similar to what the brand did with the 310 platform. As TVS has a rich history in racing, this makes more sense for the brand and will also help them evolve a step further in motorsports. This will also help differentiate the brand’s offerings from the upcoming BMW F 450 GS, which was recently spotted testing, and there won’t be a clash in terms of product offering.
The new BMW 450 platform is based on the new 450cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine which, in the BMW ADV concept, produces 48PS. Expect the upcoming TVS Apache 450 to have the same engine but to be tuned completely differently to suit the character of the bike. The 450cc TVS Apache will be the second made-in-India faired parallel-twin bike after the Aprilia RS457.
As for the upcoming Norton bikes based on the 450 platform, the engine could be tuned to be a bit more relaxed as we expect the first of the upcoming Norton bikes to be neo-retro roadsters. We expect the Norton 450cc bike to be unveiled at EICMA 2025 (November), and the TVS 450cc supersport by MotoSoul 2025 (likely in December).
Coming to the electric scooters, Sudarshan Venu has also revealed that the brand has been working on “one more new (electric) scooter”, apart from the recently launched updated iQube range. It will reportedly be launched by this financial year, so ideally before the end of March 2026. Logically, it makes sense for the brand to bring out a sporty scooter – perhaps an Ather rival. This is considering the fact that TVS already has the family-oriented e-scooter segment sorted with the iQube range.
Another interesting topic which Sudarshan Venu touched upon is the supply chain disruption that can be caused by China’s export control on rare earth magnets. These magnets are used to make the motors that power electric vehicles. Sudarshan Venu said, “I think in the short term it will impact the entire industry a fair bit”. Apart from the possibility of bringing the production to a halt in the worst case scenario, he also mentioned the chances of a price hike if the situation isn’t resolved on time.
As China is the largest producer (and supplier) of rare earth magnets, it has become important to develop alternatives in-house so that the dependency on China can be minimised. In India, Ather Energy has already been working on developing new motors that do not use rare earth minerals like neodymium (a strong permanent magnet). That said, producing such electric motors on a large scale will still take some time, so if China’s export restriction is not resolved, then it may pose a serious challenge in the Indian electric two-wheeler industry in the short term.
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