According to recent reports, UM India has halted its operations in the country. Majority of the UM dealerships have been shutting down while the brand’s joint venture with Lohia Auto is also seeing its last days. The brand has taken quite a hit when it comes to the diminishing of sales in the Indian two-wheeler segment. The reports also reveal that the brand’s production plant based in Kashipur, Uttarakhand has stopped the production of the motorcycles.
The UM Renegade Commando Classic was the last production motorcycle launched by the brand in India at a price tag of INR 1.89 lakh in September 2017. After that, the brand was focusing on joining its forces with Lohia Auto. The earlier reports which promised the introduction of UM+ brand generated through the joint venture of both the manufacturers have also seen the dust. In addition to this, the brand is also reported to have shut down its operations in China as well thus justifying its global financial crisis.
Commenting on halting its Indian operations, Ayush Lohia, CEO, Lohia Motors, said – “Our JV with UM Motorcycles was of a 50:50 nature. UM Motorcycles is currently not able to invest any money in India and thus the Kashipur plant in Uttarakhand is not manufacturing any of the UM motorcycles.”
Ayush has further confirmed that there is no further hope for reconsideration of joint venture nor are they planning to resolve any issues. According to reports, the 60% of internationally imported parts for the UM Motorcycles production in India that was carried out from Indonesia and Thailand have also been halted and no further units are being imported at UM’s Uttarakhand plant.
The reports also confirm that the majority of the UM dealerships have shut down while certain others are still operating just for servicing processes.
Commenting further on the topic, Ayush added – “We are awaiting clarity from our partner as regards addressing our dealers’ condition. For the time being though, since UM is showing no intention of going ahead with its India operations, I am not able to give a confirmed status of the current scenario of the brand in India.”
To jog your memory, UM India’s portfolio includes the cruisers namely Renegade Commando, Renegade Sport S, Renegade Mojave, Renegade Classic, and all of them are powered by a 279.5cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine.