On July 22, Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto had announced the Husqvarna's Indian launch next fiscal year while speaking at the Company’s Annual General Meeting in Pune. Bajaj had also announced plans to launch electric two-wheelers in the Indian market before the implementation of the BS6 norms that are scheduled to come in effect April 1, 2020.
Also read: India-bound Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 gets an ergonomic kit from ABM
It is very likely now that the Husqvarna brand could launch during the festival season of 2019. Auto Expo 2020 is another stage for the launch of the new brand, but Rajiv Bajaj has expressed his reservations about participating at India's biggest automobile exposition, Bajaj Auto having not taken part in the two previous editions.
Regular readers would already know that the Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401, which were unveiled at the 2016 EICMA motorcycle show, will share their underpinnings with the KTM 390 Duke. However, apart from sharing the platform and hardware, both motorcycles get feature utterly different styling.
The Vitpilen 401, being a cafe racer, will come equipped with a more forward biased ergonomics that will be achieved with the use of clip-on handlebars. The cafe racer will also feature sleek bodywork and street-focused Metzeler M5 tyres – same as those on the KTM 390 Duke.
The Svartpilen 401, on the other hand, being a Scrambler will feature a rugged design and dual-purpose tyres with the knobby pattern. Common bits on both motorcycles will include a trellis frame and upside down telescopic front forks, rear monoshock, and Bosch sourced two-channel ABS.
The motorcycles also come equipped with wire-spoke wheels that add a more rugged look to the Svartpilen 401 and a retro look to the Vitpilen 401.
Both the motorcycles will also share their engine with the 390 Duke. Thus, the upcoming Husqvarna motorcycles will come equipped with a 373.3cc single-cylinder, liquid cooled engine tuned for about 44.1 PS of power and 37 Nm of torque.
Also read: Localized Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 spotted testing in India for the first time
As mentioned in the press release, the first models, Vitpilen 401, Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 701 will be produced in Mattighofen, Austria. Shortly, the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 production for global markets will be transferred to Bajaj's Chakan factory. Local manufacturing will allow the brand to price the products competitively in the Indian market.
