Company type | Motorcycle manufacturer |
---|---|
Industry | Automotive |
Founded | 1960 |
Defunct | 1996 |
Fate | defunct |
Headquarters | Mysore, Karnataka, India |
Key people | Farrokh Irani, Founder |
Products | Jawa, Yezdi |
Number of employees | 3500 |
Website | yezdi.com |
Ideal Jawa (India) Ltd was an Indian motorcycle company based in Mysore, which sold licensed Jawa motorcycles beginning in 1960 under the brand name Jawa and from 1973 as Yezdi. The catchphrase for the bikes sold by the firm was "'Forever Bike, Forever Value".[1] Jawa motorcycles were introduced in India in 1960 and they have a cult following to this present day. Production was carried out directly in India by Ideal Jawa India Ltd based out of Mysore . The Yezdi factory was located at Yadavagiri along the railway line which heads to Mysore Junction. The factory was inaugurated by the then Governor of Mysore State, Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, Maharaja of Mysore in 1961.[2]
The Jawa 250 Type 353/04 designated as 'A' Type, Yezdi 250 'B' Type, Yezdi 250 Roadking, Yezdi 350 Twin (type 634) and Yezdi 250 Monarch models are driven to this day in various parts of the country. Jawa and Yezdi bikes, especially the ones with fuel tank paddings and ignition systems on the fuel tank are now collectors items. The company stopped production in 1996.[3]
There are still several bike enthusiasts in the country.[4] There are several bike clubs across the country, some of them even organizing long distance rallies.[5]
In January 2022, the brand was relaunched in India as Jawa Motorcycles by Mahindra & Mahindra through their Classic Legends subsidiary, through a licensing deal with the original Czech company JAWA Moto. Three models were introduced, the Roadster, Scrambler and Adventure. Yezdi motorcycles will be sold alongside Jawa motorcycles in India.[6]