Where are Triumph Motorcycles manufactured?
In this article we take a look at where Triumph’s motorcycles are manufactured, in particular the ‘modern classic’ range.
Triumph's modern classic motorcycles, such as the Bonneville series (e.g., T100, T120, Street Twin, Thruxton), are manufactured in Thailand, United Kingdom, Brazil and India.
For much of its history, Triumph manufactured motorcycles in the U.K. However, starting around 2002, production in Britain began to decline as manufacturing facilities in Thailand expanded and took over a significant portion of the company’s operations.
Every single vehicle manufacturer, be it in the automotive industry or not, is buying components from all over the world. If a motorcycle manufacturer said I’m going to source and manufacture 100% from my home country, they’d never compete.
The decision to move manufacturing overseas was understandably disappointing for some UK customers, however a necessary move to handle a surge in demand from Asia and keep manufacturing costs down to compete with the global OEM motorcycle market; keeping the brand alive.
Thailand: Triumph has a major manufacturing facility in Chonburi, Thailand. This plant produces a large portion of their motorcycles and various components. The facility is state-of-the-art and plays a significant role in the assembly and production of Triumph modern classic models.
United Kingdom: Triumph's headquarters and original factory are located in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England. While full production has largely shifted to Thailand for efficiency, high-end models and specialised parts are sometimes still produced or assembled in the UK, ensuring that the brand maintains its British heritage and oversight of quality.
The UK Hinckley headquarters focuses primarily on research, development, and engineering. Only the highest-spec models, such as the limited-edition Triumph Factory Custom (TFC) bikes are currently produced in the UK.
Currently, this includes the Rocket 3 TFC, Bobber TFC, and Thruxton TFC.
This strategic split allows Triumph to keep production costs competitive while maintaining design, engineering, and quality control at its UK base.To identify where a Triumph modern classic has been manufactured, the 11th character of the frame number; located on the left-hand side of the steering tube just below the frame neck. The code is "T" for Thailand, "J" for Jacknell Road Hinckley, "M" for Manaus Brazil, and "D" for Manesar Delhi India.
For those looking to get up close and personal with the Triumph brand in the UK, why not check out the Triumph Visitor Experience at Triumph Headquarters, Hinckley, Leicestershire. The tour was updated in 2021 to include a visit to the Centre of Excellence, home of Triumph’s development and 3D printing department.