Classic Legends, the company responsible for designing, manufacturing, and selling iconic motorcycle brands such as Jawa, Yezdi, and BSA, is actively working on electric bikes and plans to introduce them to the Indian market once the charging infrastructure is adequately developed, according to CEO Ashish Singh Joshi.
While the current charging infrastructure can support entry-level electric scooters or motorcycles with a range of 50-100 km, it is not yet equipped for high-performance and intercity bikes, Joshi mentioned.
“We explored electric options from the beginning and initiated the development of our electric product. We have received a grant from the British government for our tech center in Coventry to work on electric products under the BSA brand. Our electric program is in progress there,” explained Joshi in a statement to PTI.
Classic Legends, backed by Mahindra & Mahindra, successfully revived the Jawa brand in 2018, followed by the reintroduction of Yezdi in 2022. In 2016, the company also acquired the British motorcycle brand BSA.
Responding to inquiries about the company’s plans to enter the electric bike segment, Joshi emphasized the importance of India’s infrastructure development, stating, “We will decide when to introduce our electric products as India progresses on the infrastructure side. Infrastructure is absolutely necessary.”
He further elaborated that the current charging infrastructure is well-suited for entry-level electric scooters or motorcycles with a range of 50-100 km. However, for premium products with ranges of 300 km or 400 km and occasional usage, the lack of charging stations remains a concern. Additionally, motorcycles in their category would have higher battery capacities, making the availability of higher voltage charging stations crucial.
Expressing optimism, Joshi stated that as soon as the infrastructure catches up, electric motorcycles from Classic Legends will become a reality, allowing bikers to fulfil their dreams of riding these bikes in intercity locations, mountains, or deserts.
When asked about which brand among Jawa, Yezdi, and BSA would introduce the electric version first, Joshi asserted that all three brands are capable of handling electric bikes. From an architectural perspective, there is no reason why they couldn’t implement it in any of the three brands. However, the company has yet to decide which brand will take the lead.
Joshi concluded on a positive note, expressing confidence in India’s rapid progress in infrastructure development, especially in expanding charging infrastructure on highways.
