Since its roaring inception in 1995 under visionary leader Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Modenas (Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd) has embarked on a thrilling yet challenging ride through Malaysia’s fiercely competitive motorcycle landscape. Born out of a bold ambition to shake Malaysia’s dependency on imported bikes, Modenas was geared up to dominate the local scene with strategic tax perks fueling homegrown innovation and engineering muscle.
Nearly three decades later, Modenas now finds itself throttling at a critical junction—fighting fiercely to reclaim its place among heavyweight rivals, especially within the red-hot supermoped battleground.
CEO Roslan Roslan’s recent teaser announcement of the highly anticipated Modenas supermoped sparks cautious excitement. Endurance testing is underway, with a launch penciled in for the latter half of next year—or even earlier if the supermoped passes rigorous testing phases. Yet, seasoned enthusiasts and industry insiders approach this announcement warily, recalling past launches that faded before they roared.
Historically, Modenas’s ambitious plans have yielded mixed results. Between 2011 and 2016, Modenas ignited high expectations by investing deeply into a potent, locally-crafted 150cc engine, collaboratively designed with Graz University in Austria. Brimming with cutting-edge tech—dual overhead camshafts (DOHC), liquid cooling, electronic fuel injection, and a slick six-speed gearbox—this engine promised 16 horsepower, placing it at the front of its pack. However, repeated delays, daunting development costs, and stringent Euro4 emission hurdles eventually derailed the project.
Equally bold moves like acquiring an Italian engine manufacturer and the launch of an electric motorcycle have also faded into obscurity, leaving riders and industry watchers scratching their helmets. Even a promising supermotard prototype from Modenas's R&D pit crew sadly never left the garage.
Today, Modenas shifts gears by aligning itself closely with established international partners such as Bajaj from India and Kymco from Taiwan, strategically aiming for a safer route through proven technologies, established supply chains, and strong after-sales networks. The past has also seen Modenas riding alongside names like SYM, KYMCO, BAJAJ, ZONGSHENG, and even exploring alliances with KTM and Hero India, showcasing its relentless pursuit of powerful partnerships.
Yet, a critical question looms: Can Modenas truly roar back independently, or will it continue cruising under the shadow of strategic partnerships? The motorcycle world is heating up dramatically with aggressive Chinese manufacturers pushing out feature-packed, budget-friendly motorcycles, squeezing market space and intensifying competition.
The current Kawasaki-Modenas alliance could indeed revitalize the national motorcycle maker. If Modenas effectively taps into Kawasaki’s global reputation, advanced tech, and extensive market influence, it can significantly amplify its competitive edge. But Modenas must quickly address key challenges like product diversification, dealer network strength, agile product lifecycle management, and deeply understanding customer expectations. Yamaha’s and Honda’s highly effective, dealer-driven strategies show the roadmap for winning the hearts—and wallets—of passionate riders.
Crucially, to truly excel, Modenas must embrace the soul of motorcycling culture. Boardroom strategies alone won’t win races. Marketing teams and R&D personnel must live, breathe, and think like true bikers, driven by passion and fueled by daily riding experiences. Brands like Ducati, KTM, Honda, and Kawasaki have proven successful because their designers don't just engineer motorcycles—they craft machines that riders crave. Only by adopting this enthusiast-driven mentality can Modenas consistently produce motorcycles that resonate deeply with riders.
MODENAS also has teams competing in the local Cub Prix—a perfect proving ground to test performance, endurance, and innovation. Yet, what insights and lessons have been drawn from these high-adrenaline races? How effectively have these racing experiences been translated into everyday motorcycles that the typical Malaysian rider demands? Malaysia's motorcycle market uniquely prioritizes performance over fuel economy—a sharp contrast to neighboring countries focused heavily on fuel efficiency and economic practicality. With fuel subsidies potentially diminishing, Modenas must also strategically consider the shifting priorities of Malaysian consumers.
Modenas once experienced significant success under the visionary leadership of CEO Abdul Halim, CEO Amiruddin, and Marketing Head Amarjeet Singh, launching beloved bikes like the Kriss, CT, Jaguh, and Dinamik. These models didn't merely sell—they won loyalty, built trust, and revived the Modenas brand when it needed it most. Modenas must recapture that boldness, passion, and commitment to understanding rider preferences and nurturing dealer relationships.
Ultimately, Modenas faces an exhilarating yet daunting choice: unleash its full potential through passionate innovation and strategic partnerships like Kawasaki, or risk fading further into the rearview mirrors of aggressive international competitors. The ride ahead is Modenas’s to navigate—but it must twist the throttle decisively to reclaim its glory.
SO WHATS NEXT FOR MODENAS? WHAT'S AHEAD OF THEM? M-FORCE headed by an ex-colleague of mine is driving them further with brands like SYM, Benelli, WMoto under thier wings have taken more market share then others. Capturing B40 markets and making their way up. Building on customer and product life cycle.
I remember my WAR ROOM, a room of all my rivals from each details that can or could impact us.
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Modenaz still very far behind competitively with others common brands in msia. The progress and achievements are extremely poor. They don't even have a own called small engine, they don't even have a little footing in asean countries. Soon China brands gonna eat them up like killing ants. They merely survive bcoz msia exist, or u can them the autism child of proton.
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