Classic Legends, the two-wheeler subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra, and Tube Investments of India, part of the Murugappa Group, have joined forces to introduce the BSA brand in India.

The partners have announced forming a new 50:50 joint venture for licensing ‘BSA’ trademarks, that will allow Classic Legends to manufacture and/or sale of motorcycles, parts and accessories in India. 

Founded in 1861, the iconic British brand BSA stands for Birmingham Small Arms, which originally manufactured firearms. The company set-up its motorcycle division up in 1903, and the first motorcycle was rolled out in 1910. At the peak of its success in 1950, BSA branded motorcycle made up for one in every four motorcycle sold globally. 

Despite all its success in 1971, the Group found itself with a trading loss of 3 million sterling pounds (INR 305 million), and by 1973 the firm stopped production.

It was in October 2016, the BSA brand was bought out by Classic Legends, and in 2021, it launched its first new motorcycle the ‘Gold Star’.

The once popular BSA brand in India is now set to come back, albeit, in a new avatar, and would compete in the mid-size motorcycle segment.

Indian Navy and Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles concluded their ‘Ride of the Marakkars’ motorcycle rally on 11 December and became the first-ever group of riders to cross Atal Setu, India’s longest sea bridge.

Senior Indian Navy officials led the convoy of 22 people, which was also accompanied by riders from the Western Naval Command and Army and Air Force members. The Make in India concept was embodied by all 22 bikes, which were proudly made in India and demonstrated the unity of domestic ingenuity and the unwavering spirit of the military.

The rally started at Mumbai's INS Kunjali and travelled over picturesque coastal roads, making stops in Pune, Satara, Dapoli, Ratnagiri and Goa. In order to celebrate India's nautical history and the tradition of the renowned Kunjali Marakkars, riders stopped at several locations of maritime importance along the route, such as Ratnadurg Fort, Fort Aguada and Sinhagad Fort.

Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group and Co-Founder of Classic Legends, said, “The sight of a phalanx of Jawa, Yezdi and BSA motorcycles roaring across Atal Setu fills me with pride. It is fitting that these Made-in-India machines partnered with the Indian Navy to celebrate the ‘Ride of the Marakkars’ and honour India’s maritime history.”

Lieutenant Commander Vishal Nair said, “It’s fitting that this rally ended with a historic first on Atal Setu. As we crossed the bridge, it felt like a tribute to the countless bridges – both literal and symbolic – that the Navy builds with the people of this nation.”

Ultraviolette Automotive, one of India’s leading electric premium motorcycle manufacturers, is accelerating its retail footprint with the inauguration of two new experience centres in Mumbai and Coimbatore.

The EV maker opened its Coimbatore UV Space Station on 12 December, and Mumbai dealership on 13 December, which is part of its target to expand to 25 cities by March next year.

Narayan Subramaniam, Co-Founder and CEO, Ultraviolette, said, "Launching our Experience Centre in the financial capital of India is a momentous step in Ultraviolette’s journey. Mumbai is a pivotal market for us, and with this launch, we are one step closer to making the adoption of high-performance electric vehicles even more accessible in India. We are extremely excited to bring the F77 Mach 2 to our customers in Mumbai and are looking forward to them experiencing the performance, technology and innovation built into this motorcycle."

At present, Ultraviolette offers its flagship performance motorcycle – the F77 Mach 2, which comes with 40.2 hp of power, 100 Nm of torque, can go from zero to 60 kph in 2.8 seconds. Featuring a 10.3 kWh battery it has a claimed IDC range of 323km.

Niraj Rajmohan, Co-Founder and CTO, Ultraviolette Automotive, said, "At Ultraviolette, our vision goes beyond creating electric motorcycles—we aim to build an ecosystem that embodies innovation, sustainability, and performance. Our Experience Centres reflect this vision. We were operating a UV Base to provide service support for our customers in Mumbai and by now launching a 3S facility we are not only strengthening our footprint but also elevating the customer experience.” 

India Yamaha Motor Pvt Ltd has successfully hosted over 15,000 fans and riding enthusiasts at its Experience Zone at the recently concluded Delhi Comic Con.

Thousands of fans, influencers, comic book readers, anime fanatics and motorbike enthusiasts enjoyed themselves at the blue-themed Yamaha Experience Zone during the event, which took place at the NSIC Grounds in Okhla, New Delhi, from 6-8 December 2024. Immersed in the thrill of virtual racing, visitors delighted at the MotoGP gaming setting. While the YZF-R15 offered the unusual opportunity to pose at a dramatic lean angle, mimicking the excitement of a racecourse turn, the Samurai-themed MT-03 emerged as a preferred photo location.

Fans could snap and take home their treasured images thanks to the RayZR Street Rally's immediate photo-sharing option, which increased the excitement. There was a lot of interaction throughout the event, with attendees expressing their passion for Yamaha and a strong interest in motorcycles. The most active cosplayers and comic book and motorcycle fans were offered Comic Con Super Fan Box and Yamaha’s exclusive Comic Con-themed merchandise.

Aishwarya Pissay has added one more World Championship medal to her kitty by securing third place in the 2024 FIM Bajas World Cup. With this victory, she has become the first and only Indian to win three World Championship medals in Motorsport.

The championship's eighth and final event, the challenging Dubai International Baja, took place on Sunday, marking the end of the season. The Bengaluru rider, who competed in the 450 cc and Ladies' classes, encountered technical difficulties, including problems with her navigation system in the last round, which prevented her from making it to the final classification. Notwithstanding these disappointments, she was able to solidify her position as a trailblazer in Indian motorsport by earning enough points from previous events to clinch the second runner-up spot on the Bajas World Cup standings.

With her victory in the 2019 Bajas World Cup, Pissay became the first Indian to win a World Championship in motorsport. She currently possesses three World Cup medals, which is a record in 2W motorsport. Together with co-sponsors IIFL, Micro Labs and Surana College, TVS Racing has helped to support her outstanding achievements.

Pissay said, “This rally was a true test of resilience. Unfortunately, technical issues with the navigation system on both days kept me out of the general classification, but every challenge brings a valuable lesson. Rally life often throws the unexpected at you, and this experience has only fuelled my determination to come back stronger. Despite the setbacks, I’m immensely proud to have secured 3rd place in the World Championship for India. This marks my third World Championship podium in the history of the sport, and I’m deeply grateful for the unwavering support of my team, fans, and everyone who continues to believe in me.”