Royal Enfield, a mid-size luxury motorbike manufacturer owned by Eicher Motors, has unveiled its new electric vehicle brand, Flying Flea, with plans to launch two electric bikes by early 2026. Managing director of Eicher Motors Siddhartha Lal says Flying Flea represents the next big step in Royal Enfield’s evolution.
“This marks the next phase of Royal Enfield’s history. During the Milan Motorcycle Show, Lal stated, “We have the bandwidth and the capability to do an electric vehicle, even though the first chapter of petrol bikes will continue to grow with a lot more plans in our petrol journey.”
The new model is based on the original Flying Flea, a small, light motorcycle designed for military usage during World War II that made its debut in the 1940s.
The first two Flying Flea motorcycles, the classic-styled FF-C6 and the scrambler-styled FF-S6, will go on sale by early 2026. The C6 model is expected to make its debut the following year.
“While the larger utility scooters are not selling, some smaller models are. You want a long range on a motorcycle. It is not feasible with the technology available today. Regarding the electric two-wheelers that are now on the market, Lal stated, “If the battery is going to be too big or heavy, then you get range anxiety and charging issues.”
“What is truly lacking is something that can satisfy city plus range requirements that is lightweight, incredibly beautiful, enjoyable, and high-end exciting.”
Royal Enfield promises a magnesium battery case for the FF-C6 that combines organic design language for optimal cooling and weight savings, together with a flowing forged aluminum frame that provides a “timeless” appearance and lightweight, robust construction.
The company has already committed more than Rs 1,500 crore in its electric car business and employed key top management leaders for Flying Flea. They have built a dedicated team of over 200 engineers in India and the UK over the last few years, and they have been investing heavily in electric vehicle research and development.
Although Royal Enfield has already purchased more land for the Cheyyar electric car factory, the initial batch of electric vehicles will be produced on a different manufacturing line at its Orgadam location. The new plant would be able to produce 1.5 lakh electric vehicles annually.
With aspirations to co-develop electric motorcycles, Eicher Motors has also purchased a roughly 10% investment in Stark Future, a Spanish manufacturer of high-performance electric motorcycles.
The first Flying Flea model from the company will be introduced to foreign markets in the interim. The business then intends to open in India as well.
“Other global markets, such as those in Europe, the US, and Latin America, are seeing growth in the use of electric vehicles. Eventually, we will introduce the model to India.Although it might come later, it is by definition a component of the strategy”, he stated.
