False start of a hope carrier

BMW is setting high expectations for the G 310 R: the new model is to become the bestseller in the world. But the market launch has been delayed for months. The Munich make an Indian supplier responsible.

Neues Motorradmodell: Problemfall BMW G 310 R

Thursday, 12.01.2017
08:56 clock

Call at a Hamburg BMW motorcycle dealer.

Question: “Tell me, can I buy the 310 R already?”

Answer: “Yes, no problem, come over”.

So far so good. But then it gets complicated.

Next question: “When could I allow that part?”

The answer (after a short silence): “Well, you can buy the bike now, but we can not offer a test drive and do not name a delivery date.”

The history of this – for both buyers and dealers alike – frustrating conversation begins in November 2015: Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and Stephan Schaller, Head BMW motorcycle, announced at a press conference the goal of increasing by 2020, the sales of the motorcycle division by about a quarter to 200,000 copies per year. A fitting model for this ambitious plan presented the two at the same time on the occasion: the small single cylinder BMW G 310 R with 313 cubic.

This machine, so the expectation of the Munich, should be the door opener for further segments, larger target groups and above all for the important markets in Brazil and Asia. At that time Stephan Schaller said: “The 310s should be the most important BMW motorcycle not only for 2016, but also in the next few years.” Targeted market launch of the hopefuls, worldwide: second quarter of 2016.

In the meantime, people are talking about starting in spring 2017 in Munich.

A BMW spokesman formulated very carefully weeks ago: “For the new season, the vehicle should probably be at the first dealers.” Delay in Germany so: about one year. Worldwide it will be even later.

The background of the delay

The causes for the worst possible introduction are in Germany and India: BMW has teamed up with the Indian manufacturer TVS in Bangalore to produce the G 310 platform. The TVS Motor Company is the third largest two-wheeler producer in India with around three million vehicles per year – and is known for its good quality and serious model policy. Actually.

But something had gone wrong with the cooperation. And not only in Bangalore: For example, BMW found serious quality defects at a supplier during tests with models from the compulsory pilot series – but only last summer. “There are problems with the long-term strength of a certain component,” confirmed a BMW spokesman. It concerns a part, which originates from an Indian supplier, said the speaker further, without wanting to give further details to it.

Even when the 310 R was made available to specialist journalists for test drives for the first time at the beginning of September 2016, doubts soon arose about the marketability of the motorcycle. The route led through the Bavarian foothills of the Alps; the 310 R ran around – as weighty 158 kilograms at 34 hp from a cylinder just run – but the testers had quickly fixed a weak point: the manual transmission. The six aisles hooked and the search for the idle turned into a puddle in the murky. The web portal “Bikerszene” still expressed it benevolently: “However, the gear display in the digital cockpit supplied by Conti makes it easier to choose the right gear.”

BMW then had a model stop at the beginning of October 2016. However, the manufacturer still does not have full control of the manufacturing tolerances: From a test drive in early December 2016 in Los Angeles, a participant reported that it would be better to change gears or idle on the G 310 R. In the state, nothing works.

Back to the main plant

At the Hamburg BMW dealer, the 310 R is still an exhibit in the showroom. In a few weeks, all previously delivered vehicles should go back to the main plant in Spandau. “Something like that can happen, and some new models advise customers to wait for the second generation,” says the dealer. In the spring, the sales stop should be lifted and new machines are delivered; then finally without defects.

For the second half of 2017, BMW wants to launch the new small enduro G 310 GS as another global model. Engine and powertrain of the machine are identical to the 310 R – and come from the same production line in Bangalore.

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