Entry into EV next big chapter for Royal Enfield, says Siddhartha Lal

Eicher Motors-owned mid-size premium motorcycle maker Royal Enfield has unveiled its new electric vehicle brand Flying Flea with plans to launch two electric motorcycles by early 2026. Siddhartha Lal, the managing director of Eicher Motors, said Flying Flea is the next big chapter in Royal Enfield’s future journey.

“This is the next chapter in the history of Royal Enfield. While the first chapter of petrol bikes will continue to grow with a lot more plans in our petrol journey, today we have the bandwidth and the capability to do an electric vehicle," Lal told reporters while launching the Flying Flea brand at the Milan Motorcycle Show.

"For us it is not just another launch, this is really monumental in the way we look at Royal Enfield…The scale of how we are looking at this is – the beginning of the next 25 years chapter starts today.”

The new brand draws inspiration from the original Flying Flea which was launched in 1940s as a small, lightweight purpose-built motorcycle designed for military use during World War II. 

Flying Flea's first two motorcycles, the classic-styled FF-C6 and the scrambler-styled FF-S6, will be in the markets by early 2026, with the first model- C6, expected next year.

“Some smaller utility scooters are selling but the big ones are not selling. On a motorcycle you want a long-range. With the current technology, it is not possible. If the battery is going to be too big, too heavy, then you get range anxiety, charging issues,” Lal said while talking about the current electric two-wheelers in the market.

“What is really missing is something that is lightweight, absolutely drop-dead gorgeous, fun, premium exciting that can cater to city plus range requirements.”

Royal Enfield boasts of a flowing forged aluminum frame for FF-C6, which provides a lightweight yet strong structure with a “timeless” silhouette and a magnesium battery case that uses organic design language for optimal weight saving and cooling.

The company has committed over Rs 1,500 crore for its electric vehicle business and it has already brought on board key top management executives for Flying Flea. They have been investing deeply in research and development for electric vehicles over the last few years, and have set up a dedicated team of over 200 engineers in India and the UK.

While Royal Enfield has already acquired new land for the electric vehicle facility in Cheyyar, the first set of electric vehicles however will be coming out of its Orgadam facility – from a separate manufacturing line. The new electric vehicle facility will have a capacity to produce 1.5 lakh units per annum.

Eicher Motors has also acquired around 10% stake in Spanish high-performance electric motorcycle maker Stark Future, with plans to co-develop electric motorcycles.

Meanwhile, the automaker's first Flying Flea model will launched in the international markets. Subsequently, the company plans to launch in India as well.

“There are other markets around the world, where there is traction for electric vehicles, like markets of Europe, the US, and Latin America. We will bring the model to India eventually…It is by definition part of the plan, but may be later,” he said.