VOL. 55 ISSUE 49 DECEMBER 11, 2018 P61
market penetration that you've
had with the BMW G 310 R
and G 310 GS models built in
India by TVS?
In general we are very satis-
fied, because we have demand
out-stripping supply, so we
are in discussion with TVS to
increase production. Up to the
end of October this year we
have sold 18,000 units, with a
split of 55 percent to 45 percent
in favor of the GS, so they are
very close together.
Will you develop other mod-
els based on the G 310 single-
cylinder platform?
For the moment we'll leave it just
with those two existing models.
Now Royal Enfield, the big-
gest middleweight manufactur-
er in India, has produced a twin-
cylinder 650, are you thinking
of doing the same? Will BMW
produce, say, a 600cc Boxer
model made in India?
At the moment, I think we are
very well positioned with our mid-
dleweight class models. We have
great success, the bar is high, the
customers are happy,
and we still have potential to en-
large the family.
But, as always, strategic think-
ing is continually looking at spots
in the market that are attractive
to attack. So, of course, we have
looked at the possibilities to ex-
tend our range in that way, but we
don't have a serious plan or deci-
sion to do so yet. We will continue
to focus on the existing two single-
cylinder models for now.
Moving back to the other end
of the scale again, what plans
are there to extend BMW's
RTM/Resin Transfer Moulding
leadership in low-cost carbon
fiber production? May I presume
that the new S 1000 RR would
be a good platform for this?
Yes, it's a good example. I think
we have very good synergies with
other divisions in the BMW Group,
allowing us to take advantage of
our competence in carbon fiber
production. The extension of the
M-brand to motorcycles will give
even more support on this.
The most significant market
segment that BMW is not pres-
ent in now is the Cruiser sector.
BMW was very successful with
the R 1200 C made between
1997 and 2004, manufactur-
ing over 40,000 examples—but
nothing since. Are there any
plans for BMW to return to the
(Left) We've already tested the
850 GS in Moab earlier this
year. It's safe to say the new
bike is an improvement over
the near 10-year-old F 800
GS. (Right) Schramm has also
confirmed the BMW cruiser is in
development, although he was
coy on a possible release date.
I can tell you we
are no longer just
sitting and looking
at how big the
cruiser segment is!
We will come with
a very emotional
and attractive and
authentic BMW
solution to this
segment not so very
far in the future."
