Indian Navy and Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles concluded their ‘Ride of the Marakkars’ motorcycle rally on 11 December and became the first-ever group of riders to cross Atal Setu, India’s longest sea bridge.

Senior Indian Navy officials led the convoy of 22 people, which was also accompanied by riders from the Western Naval Command and Army and Air Force members. The Make in India concept was embodied by all 22 bikes, which were proudly made in India and demonstrated the unity of domestic ingenuity and the unwavering spirit of the military.

The rally started at Mumbai's INS Kunjali and travelled over picturesque coastal roads, making stops in Pune, Satara, Dapoli, Ratnagiri and Goa. In order to celebrate India's nautical history and the tradition of the renowned Kunjali Marakkars, riders stopped at several locations of maritime importance along the route, such as Ratnadurg Fort, Fort Aguada and Sinhagad Fort.

Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group and Co-Founder of Classic Legends, said, “The sight of a phalanx of Jawa, Yezdi and BSA motorcycles roaring across Atal Setu fills me with pride. It is fitting that these Made-in-India machines partnered with the Indian Navy to celebrate the ‘Ride of the Marakkars’ and honour India’s maritime history.”

Lieutenant Commander Vishal Nair said, “It’s fitting that this rally ended with a historic first on Atal Setu. As we crossed the bridge, it felt like a tribute to the countless bridges – both literal and symbolic – that the Navy builds with the people of this nation.”

Pune-headquartered two- and three-wheeler major Bajaj Auto has launched the Chetak 35 Series with prices starting INR 120,000 and going up to INR 127,000 (ex-showroom India). It is available in three variants 3501, 3502 and 3503.

While on the outside the e-scooters look similar to the existing Chetak models available in the country, the Chetak 35 Series comes with all-new floorboard batteries and a host of new tech and safety upgrades.

The company is betting on the strong growth momentum witnessed by the Chetak brand in the e-scooter space as it expands the network and availability of its green offering. For the January to November period, the company has sold a total of 174,909 electric two-wheelers, up 184 percent YoY, as compared to 61,519 units last year.

The new e-scooters are equipped with 3.5 kWh battery capacity, claimed range of upto 153 km per charge, attain a claimed top speed of 73 kmph, zero to 80 percent charge in 3 hours, 35-litre of under seat storage capacity, 5-inch TFT touchscreen (3501 model) for easier navigation and access to more features.

It also gets remote immobilisation, guide-me home lights, geo-fencing, anti-theft and accident features safety tech. The company continues to provide 3-years/50,000km on both models.

Eric Vas, President, Urbanite Business Unit, Bajaj Auto, said: “The Chetak '35 Series' represents our continued momentum in the electric two-wheeler market, where we've solidified our leadership position in the recent months till date. This flagship series is strategically designed to resonate with younger riders, offering cutting-edge technology along with neo-classic style. Our comprehensive product range now ensures that there is a Chetak for every rider."

Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited (Gulf Oil), a leading player in the lubricants industry, and Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd (Piaggio India), a 100 percent subsidiary of the Italian auto giant Piaggio Group, have officially announced the renewal of their collaboration for two-wheeler lubricants. Originally signed in January 2020, the collaboration now extends until 2032 as per the renewed agreement.

Gulf will remain Piaggio India's official lubricant partner under this exclusive deal, serving the retail, workshop and factory fill sectors in India as well as a few export markets. The collaboration highlights a common goal of promoting innovation and providing outstanding customer service in the two-wheeler market. Since the beginning of the relationship, Gulf and Piaggio have collaborated to produce cutting-edge lubricants, such as coolants for Piaggio's sports bikes and engine oils for scooters and motorcycles. New totally synthetic ranges of lubricants are now undergoing testing and approval. In the commercial vehicle (CV) market, Gulf and Piaggio India have also formed a long-term partnership, reaffirming their dedication to offering high-performance lubricants for a variety of vehicle types.

Ravi Chawla, MD & CEO, Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited, said, "We are excited to renew our partnership with Piaggio India, a collaboration built on a shared commitment to innovation and high-performance solutions. Over the past four years, this partnership has been instrumental in delivering advanced lubricants that enhance the reliability and longevity of Piaggio’s vehicles. With this renewal, we continue to invest in the future of mobility, particularly by expanding into lubricant offerings for the growing superbike segment. Our focus remains on delivering exceptional value to our customers and reinforcing Gulf’s position as a leader in the Indian lubricants market."

Diego Graffi, Chairman & MD, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd, said, "Our continued partnership with Gulf Oil is a testament to the strong alignment between our values of performance, quality and innovation. Piaggio’s engineering excellence is complimented by Gulf’s world-class lubricants, enabling our vehicles to perform at their best. As we look to the future, this partnership is pivotal in supporting our strategy to offer premium products and high-performance vehicles. Together, we are not only driving the evolution of the two-wheeler segment but also setting new standards in product excellence.”

DriveX, one of India's leading digital-first auto tech platform for refurbished two-wheelers, recently inaugurated a new store in Bengaluru, Varthur, which also marks its 30th touchpoint to come up in the country in 2024.

The company claims that it has received a strong response from potential franchise partners for its business model, with all new locations attaining 95 percent customer satisfaction ratings.

The franchise-owned and franchise-operated model allows dealer partners to leverage DriveX’s business framework, all the while having complete ownership and operational control.

In the last 30 days alone, DriveX has opened six new stores across Bengaluru, Chennai and Hosur.

Narain Karthikeyan, Founder DriveX and India’s first Formula One driver, said, “Our business model empowers franchisees to tap into DriveX’s visionary service solutions while ensuring they retain full operational oversight. This approach has been pivotal to our rapid growth and success. We are committed to supporting our partners and continuing to set new standards in the automotive service industry.”

Royal Enfield, one of leading mid-size motorcycle manufacturers, is further making inroads to drive sales. The company has announced the expansion of its pre-owned business ‘REOWN’ to 236 cities covering 24 Indian states and Union territories in the country.

Launched in 2023 in select markets, the REOWN business allows customers to trade in their existing motorcycle for a Royal Enfield bike, which comes with 12-months warranty. The facility now cover 475 dealerships in the country. Royal Enfield is also introducing its first-ever loyalty program with exchange benefits for customers who wish to upgrade from a pre-owned Royal Enfield motorcycle to a new one through REOWN’s RE-to-RE exchanges. 

Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Chief Commercial Officer, Royal Enfield, said, “At Royal Enfield, we are constantly innovating to ensure we extend the joy of owning a Royal Enfield to riding enthusiasts. REOWN’s expansion to cover 236 cities from just select cities within a year is an extension of our promise to provide enthusiasts with a hassle-free and transparent way of owning a Royal Enfield, whether it is their first or a cherished upgrade.” 

REOWN has also partnered with Adroit Auto, SAMIL and Instabid to facilitate exchanges of non-RE motorcycles as well. Every pre-owned motorcycle listed on REOWN is certified by Royal Enfield and undergoes more than 200 technical and mechanical checks and is refurbished using genuine parts at authorised Royal Enfield service centers.