TVS Motor Company

{{Short description|Indian multinational motorcycle manufacturer}}

{{Infobox company

| name = TVS Motor Company Limited

| logo = TVS Motor logo.svg

| logo_size = 280px

| logo_caption =

| trading_name = tvsmotor

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{ubl|{{BSE|532343}}|{{NSE|TVSMOTOR}}}}

| ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|INE494B01023}}

| industry = Automotive

| successor =

| foundation = {{Start date and age|1911}} as T. V. Sundram Iyengar & Sons Limited

| founder = T. V. Sundram Iyengar

| defunct =

| location_city = Chennai, Tamil Nadu

| locations =

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Venu Srinivasan
(Chairman Emeritus){{cite web | url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/technology/auto/tvs-appoints-ralf-speth-as-chairman-venu-srinivasan-to-continue-as-md-8053711.html | title=TVS appoints Ralf Speth as chairman; Venu Srinivasan to continue as MD | date=8 February 2022 | access-date=6 May 2022 | archive-date=28 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428095515/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/technology/auto/tvs-appoints-ralf-speth-as-chairman-venu-srinivasan-to-continue-as-md-8053711.html | url-status=live }}|Sudarshan Venu
(Managing Director){{cite web | url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/story/sudarshan-venu-elevated-as-new-managing-director-of-tvs-motor-332477-2022-05-05 | title=Sudarshan Venu elevated as new Managing Director of TVS Motor | date=5 May 2022 | access-date=6 May 2022 | archive-date=6 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506062006/https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/story/sudarshan-venu-elevated-as-new-managing-director-of-tvs-motor-332477-2022-05-05 | url-status=live }}}}

| products = {{ubl |Two-wheeler |Three-wheeler |Automobile parts }}

| services = {{ubl |Vehicle service }}

| revenue = {{increase}} {{INRConvert|44089|c}} (FY25)

| operating_income = {{increase}} {{INRConvert|6575|c}} (FY25)

| net_income = {{increase}} {{INRConvert|3535|c}} (FY25){{cite web |title=TVS Motor Q4 result: Net profit up 15% to Rs 387 cr, revenue jumps 25% |url=https://www.screener.in/company/TVSMOTOR/consolidated/#documents |publisher=screener |access-date=12 May 2024 |archive-date=11 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511183947/https://www.business-standard.com/companies/results/tvs-motor-q4-result-net-profit-up-18-to-rs-485-cr-revenue-jumps-24-124050801027_1.html |url-status=live }}

| assets =

| equity =

| num_employees = 5,133 (2020){{cite web|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/india/stockpricequote/auto23wheelers/tvsmotorcompany/TVS|title=TVS Motor Company Ltd. Financial Statements|website=moneycontrol.com|access-date=23 December 2020|archive-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023131953/https://www.moneycontrol.com/india/stockpricequote/auto23wheelers/tvsmotorcompany/TVS|url-status=live |last1=Com |first1=Moneycontrol }}

| parent = TVS Group

| owner = TVS Holdings (50.26%){{cite news |title=Sudarshan Venu appointed as MD of TVS Holdings |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/industry/sudarshan-venu-appointed-as-md-of-tvs-holdings/3240286/ |access-date=11 April 2024 |work=Financial Express |date=12 September 2023 |language=en}}

| divisions =

| subsid = Norton Motorcycle Company (100%)

| footnotes =

| location_country = India

| homepage = {{URL|https://www.tvsmotor.com}}

}}

TVS Motor Company is an Indian multinational motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Chennai. It is the third-largest motorcycle company in India by revenue. The company has annual sales of three million units and an annual production capacity of over four million vehicles. TVS Motor Company is also the second largest two-wheeler exporter in India with exports to over 60 countries.

TVS Motor Company is the flagship company of the TVS Group, being the largest company of the group in terms of valuation and turnover.

History

T. V. Sundram Iyengar began with Madurai's first bus service in 1911 and founded TVS, a company in the transportation business with a large fleet of trucks and buses under the name of Southern Roadways.

= Early history =

Sundaram Clayton was founded in 1962 in collaboration with Clayton Dewandre Holdings, United Kingdom. It manufactured brakes, exhausts, compressors and various other automotive parts. The company set up a plant at Hosur in 1976, to manufacture mopeds as part of their new division. In 1980, TVS 50, India's first two-seater moped rolled out of the factory at Hosur in Tamil Nadu, India. A technical collaboration with the Japanese auto giant Suzuki Ltd. resulted in the joint-venture between Sundaram Clayton Ltd and Suzuki Motor Corporation, in 1987. Commercial production of motorcycles began in 1989.{{cite web

|url=http://www.moneycontrol.com/company-facts/sundaram-clayton/history/SC

|title=Sundaram Clayton Company History

|date=1 January 2005

|access-date=28 September 2010

|publisher=Moneycontrol

|archive-date=13 October 2012

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013054355/http://www.moneycontrol.com/company-facts/sundaram-clayton/history/SC

|url-status=live

|last1=Com

|first1=Moneycontrol

}}

= Suzuki relationship =

TVS and Suzuki shared a one-year-long relationship that was aimed at technology transfer for design and manufacture of two-wheelers specifically for the Indian market. Re-christened TVS-Suzuki, the company brought out several models such as the Suzuki Supra, Suzuki Samurai, Suzuki Shogun and Suzuki Shaolin. In 2001, after separating ways with Suzuki, the company was renamed TVS Motor, relinquishing its rights to use the Suzuki name. There was also a 30-month moratorium period during which Suzuki promised not to enter the Indian market with competing two-wheelers.

= Recent =

File:Apacherr310c.jpg is their latest 310 cc motorcycle]]

File:TVS Scooty Streak.jpg series]]

File:TVS tuktuk in Chennai.jpg segment]]

Recent launches include the flagship model TVS Apache RR 310, the TVS Apache RTR 200, TVS Victor and TVS XL 100. TVS has recently won 4 top awards at J.D. Power Asia Pacific Awards 2016, 3 top awards at J.D. Power Asia Pacific Awards 2015 and Two-Wheeler Manufacturer of the Year at NDTV Car & Bike Awards (2014–15).

In early 2015, TVS Racing became the first Indian factory team to take part in the Dakar Rally, the world's longest and most dangerous rally. TVS Racing partnered with French motorcycle manufacturer Sherco, and named the team Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team. TVS Racing also won the Raid de Himalaya and the FOX Hill Super Cross held at Sri Lanka. In three decades of its racing history, TVS Racing has won over 90% of the races it participates in.

In 2016, TVS started manufacturing the BMW G310R, a model co-developed with BMW Motorrad after their strategic partnership in April 2013. In December 2018, the Hosur plant where the motorcycle is manufactured rolled out its 50,000th G310R series unit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiacarnews.com/news/tvs-rolls-out-50000-unit-of-the-bmw-g310r-and-g310-gs-30752/|title=TVS Rolls Out 50,000 Unit of The BMW G310R and G310 GS|last=Sharma|first=Amit|date=13 December 2018|website=India Car News|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-21|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031235041/https://www.indiacarnews.com/news/tvs-rolls-out-50000-unit-of-the-bmw-g310r-and-g310-gs-30752/|url-status=live}}

On 6 December 2017, TVS launched their most-awaited motorcycle, the Apache RR 310 in an event at Chennai. The 310 cc motorcycle with an engine which was co-developed with BMW features the first ever full fairing on a TVS bike, dual-channel ABS, EFI, KYB suspension kits, etc. It is expected to rival bikes like KTM RC 390, Kawasaki Ninja 250SL, Bajaj Pulsar and Dominar and Honda CBR 250R after hitting the market. The Apache RR 310 is designed and realised entirely in India.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvsapache.com/rr310/|title = TVS Apache RR 310 BS-VI Price, Features, Specifications and Colours}}

On 17 April 2020, TVS Motor Company acquired Norton Motorcycle Company in an all cash deal. In the short term, they continued production of Norton 961 Commando motorcycles at Donington Park using existing staff.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/norton-motorcycles/|title=Norton Motorcycles SOLD to Indian giant TVS for £16million|date=17 April 2020|access-date=18 April 2020|archive-date=11 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411034306/https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/norton-motorcycles/|url-status=live}} The Donington factory has closed, and production of the uprated 961 is carried out at Solihull.[https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/norton/commando-961/2023/ MCN review 2023-][https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/local-news/norton-motorcycles-moves-new-hq-4937483 Staffordshire life review]

TVS in Nepal

Jagdamba Motors Pvt. Ltd. has been the official distributor of TVS Motors in Nepal since 15 September 2015 and operates under the Shanker Group. It is the 5th largest market share holder in Nepal. In 2018, it introduced the dual-channel ABS Apache RR310 whereas the 2019 Apache RR310 received upgrade. Later in 2022, the company debuted TVS Max 125 Semi-Trail and the Apache 160 2V with Apache RTR 200 4V. After mid-2023 the Raider 125 was launched. TVS introduced the Ronin 225 and Apache RTR 160 4V Special Editions bikes in the beginning of 2024.{{Cite web |last=Shrestha |first=Sushmita |date=2024-03-06 |title=TVS Motors In Nepal {{!}} Everything You Need To Know [2024 Update] - Engine Gaadi |url=https://enginegaadi.com/tvs/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |language=en-US}}

Current models

TVS Apache RR 310
TVS Apache
TVS Apache RTR 310
TVS Apache RTR 200 4V
TVS Apache RTR 160 4V
TVS Apache RTR 160
TVS Apache RTR 180
TVS Apache RTR 165RP
TVS Ronin 225
TVS Raider 125
TVS Radeon
TVS Sport
TVS Star City Plus{{Cite news |last=Chitte |first=Shubham |date=2023-05-04 |title=Which engine oil is most suitable for TVS Star City Plus? |url=https://www.supergen.in/which-engine-oil-is-most-suitable-for-tvs-star-city-plus/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Supergen Engine Oils |language=en-US |archive-date=11 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511105853/https://www.supergen.in/which-engine-oil-is-most-suitable-for-tvs-star-city-plus/ |url-status=live }}
TVS iQube
TVS iQube S
TVS iQube ST
TVS X
TVS Scooty
TVS Scooty Pep+
TVS Scooty ZEST 110CC
TVS Jupiter 110CC
TVS Jupiter 125CC
TVS Ntorq 125
TVS XL100
TVS XL100 Comfort
TVS XL100 Heavy Duty
TVS XL100 Comfort i-TOUCH start
TVS XL100 Heavy Duty i-TOUCH start
TVS XL100 Win Edition
TVS King Deluxe
TVS King Duramax
TVS King Kargo
TVS King Duramax Plus
TVS King EV MAX

Awards and recognitions

TVS Motor won the Deming Application Prize in 2002.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2002/11/03/stories/2002110301380200.htm|title=TVS Motor bags Deming award}}

In the same year, the work done for the TVS Victor motorcycle made TVS Motor win the National Award for successful commercialization of indigenous technology from the Technology Development Board, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.

{{cite web

|url = https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2003/08/03/fea18.html

|title = Mitsubishi, sole agents for Valvoline car care products

|date = 3 August 2003

|access-date = 2 August 2010

|publisher = Sunday Observer

|url-status = live

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121011095627/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2003/08/03/fea18.html

|archive-date = 11 October 2012

|df = dmy-all

}}

In 2004, TVS Scooty Pep won the 'Outstanding Design Excellence Award' from BusinessWorld magazine and the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

The effective implementation of Total Productivity Maintenance practices gave TVS Motor the TPM Excellence Award, given by the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance in 2008.

The company's Chairman Emeritus,{{Cite web |title=TVS appoints Ralf Speth as chairman; Venu Srinivasan to continue as MD |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/technology/auto/tvs-appoints-ralf-speth-as-chairman-venu-srinivasan-to-continue-as-md-8053711.html |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=Moneycontrol |date=8 February 2022 |language=en}} Venu Srinivasan, was conferred with an honorary Doctorate of Science degree by the University of Warwick, United Kingdom in 2004,{{cite news

|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/indians-abroad/Warwicks-doctorate-to-Venu-Srinivasan/articleshow/780534.cms

|title=Warwick's doctorate to Venu Srinivasan

|date=16 July 2004

|access-date=2 August 2010

|publisher=Times of India

|first1=Swati

|last1=Das

|archive-date=8 June 2011

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608124629/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/indians-abroad/Warwicks-doctorate-to-Venu-Srinivasan/articleshow/780534.cms

|url-status=live

}} while the Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian distinctions in 2010.

{{cite web

|url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/01/26/stories/2010012652881900.htm

|title = Padma Shri for Venu Srinivasan

|date = 25 January 2010

|publisher = The Hindu BusinessLine

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100603213956/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/01/26/stories/2010012652881900.htm

|archive-date = 3 June 2010

|df = dmy-all

}}

Innovative implementation of Information Technology has won TVS Motor the Ace Award for Most Innovative NetWeaver Implementation in 2007, awarded by technology major SAP AG, and the Team Tech 2007 Award of Excellence for Integrated use of Computer-aided engineering Technologies.

Himalayan Highs, an initiative launched by TVS Motor Company has been included in the India Book of Records when Anam Hashim became the first woman on a 110 cc scooter to complete the trip to Khardung La, the world's highest motorable stretch.

During an episode of The Grand Tour, Richard Hammond bought a brand new TVS Star HLS 100 cc "for £800" and used it to complete the Feed the world challenge, transporting fish 200 miles from Maputo to Bingo. During the journey, the bike performed beyond the presenter's expectations, prompting the normally motorbike-critical Clarkson to comment, "That Ewan McGregor travelled the world on a BMW GS – why didn't he just get one of these?"