Finally, the Raptors are here!
Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali launched a fleet of Regal Raptors at its showroom in Jubilee Hills on Tuesday. City-based FAB Motors had bought the manufacturing rights for the vehicle for South East Asia and all the vehicles will be manufactured in the city. FAB Motors is also mulling on establishing a Rs 1,000 crore facility at Kalakal Automobile Zone in Medchal with the support of the government.
Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali launched a fleet of Regal Raptors at its showroom in Jubilee Hills on Tuesday. City-based FAB Motors had bought the manufacturing rights for the vehicle for South East Asia and all the vehicles will be manufactured in the city. FAB Motors is also mulling on establishing a Rs 1,000 crore facility at Kalakal Automobile Zone in Medchal with the support of the government.
A portion of the investment requirement would be borne by Regal Raptor, while FAB would tie up with banks for the remaining. “ The proposed plant will create direct and indirect employment to over 25,000 people. We will increase the production capacity depending on the demand from the markets in a phased-manner,” MG Jeelani, head of FAB Motors, said.
Commenting about setting up a plant in Medchal, MG Shahriq, MD of the Group, said, “Proximity to the city and being an industrial area by itself are the reasons why we are planning to set up the plant in the area.” “We are planning to rope in Sania Mirza as the brand ambassador of Regal Raptors in India,” Shahriq added.
The models on sale in the showroom will include DD 350 E, Daytona and Bobber. The prices of the same are Rs 2.96 lakh, Rs 3.22 lakh and Rs 3.33 lakh respectively. Post booking, it will take four to six months for the bikes to be delivered. “The price of bikes range between Rs 2.96 lakh and 20 lakh. But, the high end model will be available only after two years. The 500 and 800 CC bikes will be made available in the next six months,” he said.
Right now these vehicles will be imported in CBU condition. The manufacturing facility in Hyderabad will initially focus on assembling the bikes from a knocked off condition. Post setting up the plant, the localisation would enable a price-cut and Regal Raptors might fall in Royal Enfield’s territory.
“US-based company Regal Raptor has its production unit in Shanghai and comes under Lifeng Group, which was formed in 1962 by industrialist Horse Zhang. It is doing very well in the Western, Arab and Asian countries,” added Dr MG Jeelani, chairman of the group.
Like the Harleys, Raptors will also encourage customisation among its riders. “The DD 350 E can be modified into an archetypal American Police bike by scrapping in and adding a few accessories,” he added. Two dealers in Hyderabad and an expansion up to 18 outlets in the country are on cards for the company.
By:Vikash Singh
