Royal Enfield launches Classic 500, Bullet 500 & Continental GT 535 in Vietnam

Royal Enfield has officially entered Vietnam. The Indian retro-motorcycle brand has set up a dealership at Ho Chi Minh city, the capital of Vietnam. This dealership will be used to retail 3 Royal Enfields – the Classic 500, the Bullet 500 and the Continental GT 535.

The Classic 500 and Bullet 500 use a 499cc, unit construction engine (27.2 Bhp-41.3 Nm) while the Continental uses the same engine with a slightly bigger bore of 535cc (29 Bhp-44 Nm). All bikes use 5 speed manual gearboxes. The Classic and Bullet use the same frame, with disc brakes at front and drum brakes at the rear. They both feature retro styling and are meant to be easy riding machines. The Continental GT 535, on the other hand, is a cafe racer with a slightly aggressive riding position. It gets a new frame, better suspension and braking components. It’s the costliest Royal Enfield currently.

Vietnam is the world’s 4th largest motorcycle market but most motorcycles sold there are small capacity commuter machines. Royal Enfield seeks to get more Vietnamese onto mid-sized bikes (250cc- 750cc), the segment where the company is very strong in. Al Naboodah International will be the dealer who runs the first flagship Royal Enfield store in Vietnam.

Mr.Rudratej (Rudy) Singh, President, Royal Enfield, said this, while launching the new dealership in Ho Chi Minh city,

Royal Enfield endeavours to reinvent and lead the global mid-size motorcycle segment, and South-East Asia is a critical market for us in this global strategy.This segment is expanding in India and is a huge opportunity for Royal Enfield across the world. Vietnam has a large population that is young and commutes on two-wheelers, and is now aspiring to adopt the right medium of self-expression and exploration. With a strong heritage behind us, Royal Enfield offers motorcycles that are evocative and fun to ride, and at the same time, practical, functional and accessible for everyday use. With its vast landscapes and countryside, Vietnam is an ideal destination for pure motorcycling experiences. We hope to fuel the culture of exploration and leisure motorcycling with some of our best motorcycles in Vietnam

What Mr. Singh makes a lot of sense. Thousand of bike-tourists visit Vietnam every year and are looking to explore the country on two wheels. Such tourists will love Royal Enfields for their old school charm. By capturing their attention here, Royal Enfield can become a stronger brand in many other international markets as the tourists may eventually buy the retro-classic bikes once they go back to their home countries. Royal Enfield already operates in other South East Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.