Peugeot launches first full-size motorcycle

Peugeot Motorcycles has revealed the PM-01 300 - its first full-size motorcycle in more than 70 years - to kick-start a major expansion of its range beyond its traditional scooter offerings.

Founded a few years after the construction of its first car in the 19th century, though Peugeot Motorcycles still shares the same name and emblem as the French firm’s automotive arm, the two-wheel subsidiary is wholly owned by the Mahindra & Mahindra Group.

Having completed the 100% takeover in 2019, Mahindra intimated at the time that it planned to grow Peugeot’s offerings beyond the scooter and trike market into offering low capacity, full-size motorcycles.

Previewing this with the unveiling of the P2X Concept in 2019, three years later this model is now ready for production in the form of the Peugeot PM-01 300.

Marking a fresh entry into the competitive 300-400cc naked segment, the PM-01 300 cuts a dash with its angular, minimalist profile, gold-effect forks and blade-spoke rims on 17-inch wheels, while the distinctive front-end features a edgy nose cowl with three running light ‘claws’ below a large LED headlamp unit.

Set to rival the likes of the Yamaha MT-03, BMW G 310 and Royal Enfield Hunter 350, the PM-01 300 kicks out 29hp at 9,000rpm and 24.5Nm of torque at 7,000rpm.

Weighing just 162kg and coming with ABS brakes, the PM-01 300 is pitched at younger buyers, a target set to be endorsed by competitive pricing, though this is yet to be announced.

The unveiling of the PM-01 300 coincides with the launch of the rakish new XP400, a revision to its most popular scooter, the Django, and the Tweets urban scooter.

Peugeot twinned with BSA in Mahindra’s European push

Though Peugeot Motorcycles is a relative bit-part player in the scooter market outside of its native France, the PM-01 300 is set to herald a major expansion for the firm in line with Mahindra’s own ambitious plans to grow its European footprint.

The company is one of the largest conglomerates in India with interests in motoring, manufacturing, hospitality, finance, housing, aerospace and defence.

Peugeot Motorcycles falls under the Mahindra&Mahindra automotive arm, responsible for some of India’s most popular cars and parent company to Classic Legends, responsible for the resurrection of previously mothballed brands Jawa, Yezdi and - more significantly - BSA.

With Jawa - which focuses on cruiser and bobber models - and Yezdi with its more contemporary Royal Enfield-targeted models targeted at the Indian market, Mahindra’s revival of classic British marque BSA has more of a European focus in mind.

Kicking off the revival with the BSA Gold Star 650, company bosses reiterated a commitment to the company setting up an R&D and manufacturing base in the UK in time.

It’s an infrastructure Peugeot Motorcycles will capitalise on, with Mahindra last week confirming the brand will team up with BSA by sharing its European distribution deal

“This is the next exciting step for us to bring BSA bikes, a great British brand, to the rest of the world,” Ashish Joshi, CEO, Classic Legends, and Director of BSA Company Ltd.

“Peugeot Motocycles share with us a long history of the love of two wheels and their extensive European network provides the perfect route to get the new BSA Gold Star into the hands of customers.”