BMW and TVS partner up for electric project

We could be seeing cheaper electric bikes from BMW in as little as two years after the German firm this week announced an expansion of a collaboration with Indian firm TVS specifically to develop electric bikes.

The two companies have worked together since 2013 on sub-500cc motorcycles, which has resulted in TVS building the BMW G310GS, G310R and its own Apache RR 310. Combined, 100,000 of these bikes have been sold globally.

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Now, they’ve agreed to expand the partnership to include electric bikes, with a common platform to be developed that will then be used by BMW and TVS machines. As was proven by the G310 project, this is likely to result in cheaper future BMW electric bikes than would otherwise be possible.

The two companies have also announced that the first product of this new cooperation will be unveiled within the next two years.

“Expanding this successful partnership to EVs and other newer platforms will create opportunities to deliver advanced technology and aspirational products to global markets and bring valuable synergies to both companies,” said Sudarshan Venu, Joint Managing Director of TVS.

Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad, said: “We are delighted to extend our cooperation agreement to include long-term partnership and joint development of new platforms and technologies, including electric vehicles.”

It’s not yet known if this new agreement will have any bearing on Norton, which TVS bought in 2020 and who have also confirmed they are exploring electric motorcycles.