Yesterday, the Mahindra Group-owned Classic Legends launched the brand-new Jawa 42 FJ in India. This brand-new bike has been launched at Rs 1.99 lakh, and Anand Mahindra, the Chairperson of Mahindra Group, was present at the launch. During the launch, the Mahindra chief gave an important speech highlighting how a “Crazy Bawa” helped him and Mahindra Group restart the iconic motorcycle brand Jawa in India.
“Crazy Bawa’s” Hand in Jawa’s Rebirth
During his speech, Anand Mahindra started by talking about how a bike and a car are more than just machines. He highlighted that when a person buys and drives his car or bike on the road, it is a reflection of his personality. He gave the example of the Mahindra Thar, stating that the Thar projects the go-anywhere nature of an individual.
He then stated that similarly, riding a Jawa also reflects the personality of the rider. Following this part, he transitioned to the revival of Jawa in India. He stated that it all started in 2016 when Mahindra Group realized that they do not belong to the commuter bike segment. He added that they belong to the premium motorcycle segment.
After this, Anand Mahindra revealed that he called one of his friends and investors, Anupam, for his help. He stated that Anupam, who is an avid biker and a turnaround expert, said that the answer to their need is Jawa. Following this, Anand Mahindra said that when he used to study in school in Ooty,
one of his friends was from the Jawa Irani family from Mysore. He added that after this, he told Anupam to let him find her so that they could know who currently owns the rights to Jawa Motorcycles. He elaborated that one thing led to another, and he found that Boman R. Irani was the custodian of the Jawa Motorcycles brand in India.
Following this, he then asked Anupam to meet Boman and ask him if he could provide them with the licenses for the Jawa Motorcycles brand. Anand Mahindra then stated that Anupam told him that after the lunch meeting, he understood why Parsis are called so eccentric, or as they call them in Bombay, “Crazy Bawas.”
He stated that Anupam mentioned that when he started negotiating for the license to the brand, Boman, instead of taking any money for it, stated that he would love to join Mahindra and bring this iconic brand back to life. Following this, Anand Mahindra rounded up his speech by saying this is for all those “Crazy Bawas” that make the world go round.
Legacy of Ideal Jawa
To better understand the significance of Jawa’s revival, it is essential to look back at the history of Ideal Jawa (India) Ltd., the company that originally brought Jawa motorcycles to Indian roads. Ideal Jawa was established in Mysore (now Mysuru) in 1960.
At the time, it became very popular for building solid and reliable motorcycles that were loved by Indian riders. The company, which also produced Yezdi motorcycles, was known for its engineering abilities and the distinctive design of its bikes.
Over the years, Jawa motorcycles, with their iconic exhaust note and retro design, became very popular. However, despite its popularity, Ideal Jawa faced tough competition from other brands and changing market dynamics.
By the 1990s, the company struggled to keep up with the evolving preferences of Indian consumers, who wanted modern motorcycles. Eventually, Ideal Jawa shut down its operations. This marked the end of an era for motorcycle enthusiasts in India.
The shutdown of Ideal Jawa left a void in the market. However, Mahindra’s Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd., in 2016, made an agreement with Boman Irani to bring back the legacy of the Jawa Motorcycles in India. Following this, numerous modern bikes were launched by the brand, including the latest Jawa 42 FJ.