Pedal to the metal: Why Ludhiana’s cycle industry needs to take a cue from Holland
cycle industry in Ludhiana dates back to the pre-Partition days and the legacy continues to remain even in contemporary times. Renowned brands such as Hero Cycles and Avon Cycles started their journey from Ludhiana in the ’50s and ’60s.
Popularly dubbed as the “bicycle capital” of the country, Ludhiana accounts for 90% of the country’s cycle production and has a host of MSMEs involved in the trade.
According to Invest Punjab, a portal established in 2013 by the Government of Punjab, Ludhiana accounts for approximately 10.5 million bicycles out of the 15 million bicycles produced in India each year.
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But it has not been an easy time for the industry reeling under the impact of competition from China, high GST and lack of safety standards. Industry experts say that while the cycle industry in Ludhiana has always boasted of impressive statistics, certain aspects are detrimental to growth and need immediate attention.
Harsimerjit Singh, Director of Lucky Group of Industries, and President of the United Cycles Parts and Manufacturers Association (UCPMA), says that the biggest problem is competition from China. “They have better technology. They got the tech transfer advantage from Taiwan which chose China to set up its factories.
India has no such advantage. For us to be on a par with China, we need tech upgradation so that we are not dependent on them for imports,” he says.
Alluding to how Ludhiana is making more of mid-sized cycles, Singh says that this is only due to a lack of tech advancement in the industry. “Be it in alloy frames, the kind of paints used, cycle lights — there are so many elements which will make it a bestseller to the upper segment.
