TVS

The name TVS originates from its founder, Thirukkurungudi Vengaram Sundram Iyengar. The brand traces its roots back to 1911, when T V Sundram Iyengar established Southern Roadways Limited, a bus transport company that laid the foundation for what would become the TVS Group. TVS officially entered the automotive sector in 1976, starting with moped manufacturing at its Hosur plant.

As a proudly Indian-owned company, TVS Motor Company operates under the umbrella of the TVS Group. Its headquarters and primary manufacturing hub are based in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Today, TVS ranks as India’s second-largest two-wheeler manufacturer by revenue.

TVS & Suzuki: A Past Partnership

Contrary to common belief, TVS is not owned by Suzuki. However, its predecessor, Sundaram Clayton Limited, formed a joint venture with Suzuki Motor Corporation in the past. This collaboration, aimed at producing motorcycles using Suzuki’s technology, gave rise to several legendary 100cc two-stroke models, including the Samurai, Shogun, Shaolin, and Supra. In 2001, this partnership ended, and TVS gained full ownership of Sundaram Clayton, renaming it TVS Motor Company.

The First TVS Motorcycle

The first motorcycle launched under the TVS brand in India was the Ind-Suzuki AX100, a 100cc two-stroke commuter bike developed during the Suzuki partnership. Post-split, TVS introduced the TVS Victor, its first fully in-house developed commuter bike, featuring a 4-stroke engine.