Get All Access for $5/mo

Yamaha Motor Invests in Bike Rental Platform Royal Brothers The investment has been made via Yamaha Motor's Moto Business Service India (MBSI) subsidiary, which is a mobility solution company established in March 2021

By S Shanthi

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Unsplash

Yamaha Motor has invested an undisclosed amount in bike rental company Royal Brothers via its Moto Business Service India (MBSI) subsidiary, which is a mobility solutions company established in March 2021.

Yamaha Motor had recently announced its entry into two-wheeler asset management services through the launch of MBSI, which will provide its services for tech startup companies that focus on shared mobility space in India. Their first investment is with Royal Brothers, which, according to the company, was the first company with a bike rental license for Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh and is now the first company to launch a bike rental service at Kempegowda International Airport Bangalore. In 2019, angel investors invested in the primary rounds taking the company from a bootstrapped to a funded venture currently operational in Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana

MBSI aims to increase the usage of vehicles on shared/rental platforms, create employment opportunities, and contribute towards improving people's quality of life in India. The company aims to generate higher levels of employment for the Indian youth, empower more women to earn their livelihood and to support the business growth of mobility platforms with a keen focus on maintaining a cleaner and greener environment in the country.

MBSI will also procure new two wheelers and deploy them on rental platforms such as Royal
Brothers, on a revenue sharing basis model. These vehicles are taken on rent by individuals and
delivery executives at an affordable monthly lease value, which in turn ensures regular income
and the agenda of creating employment. MBSI will also explore the opportunities to work with
last mile delivery platformers, especially with the companies who are keen on deploying EV
2W/3W.

"We are extremely excited to officially launch MBSI by kick starting our operations with Royal Brothers. Today, India is the land of startups and thriving digital infrastructure, uniquely placed at the cusp of a socio-economic
revolution. Though the mobility sector took a blow from Covid-19, ride-hailing and rental services are picking up pace again. We will onboard two wheelers across multiple cities and generate employment avenues for the youth of India. We plan to work with more mobility companies in the future and to transform the overall shared mobility space in India by bringing our financial and strategic experience from our stakeholders," said Shoji Shiraishi, Managing Director, MBSI.

Royal Brothers offers a range of two-wheelers from Mopeds to Scooters to Superbikes which can be rented in 20-plus cities across 8 states of India and our partnership will widen the reach in cities and will expand the customer base. "We are delighted to be starting the first quarter of 2022 with this partnership. We have always focused on our client needs and are striving on a daily basis to serve the best to our clients. We want our users to enjoy a seamless experience with everyday innovation. We want to give access to 500 million Indians to move around on a motorcycle or scooter without owning a vehicle. We believe access is the new ownership," said Abhishek Chandrashekar, co-founder and CEO, Royal Brothers.

S Shanthi

Former Senior Assistant Editor

Shanthi specializes in writing sector-specific trends, interviews and startup profiles. She has worked as a feature writer for over a decade in several print and digital media companies. 

 

News and Trends

"45% of All Ongoing Hydropower Projects in India are Ours": Patel Engineering

Patel Engineering reported a turnover of INR 4,400 crore in the last fiscal year, with a projected 10 per cent growth for the current year.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

News and Trends

Broadcom Stock Soars on AI Growth Outlook

Broadcom's next-generation AI chips, built with advanced 3-nanometer technology, are set to debut in the spring

Leadership

Should I Stay or Should I Go? 8 Key Points to Navigate the Founder's Dilemma

Here are eight key signs that help founders determine whether to persevere or let go.

Leadership

Visionaries or Vague Promises? Why Companies Fail Without Leaders Who See Beyond the Bottom Line

Visionary leaders turn bold ideas into lasting impact by building resilience, clarity and future-ready teams.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.