The Flash Electronics Royal Enfield legal war is concerned with the production of the Regulator Rectifier device
Flash Electronics India Ltd, is one of the leading players among the auto components manufacturers around. Established in 1989, the firm currently manufactures electronic and electrical auto components for various leading automakers like Bajaj Auto Ltd, India Yamaha motor, Maruti-Suzuki and Jawa motorcycles etc in India and big shots like Porsche, Audi, BMW, KTM, Kawasaki, Harley-Davidson Ducati, Triumph and BRP-Rotax globally.
Flash Electronics has recently been in news for having filed a lawsuit against Royal Enfield in the US, for patent infringement. The suit alleges Royal Enfield for having infringed Flash Electronics’ patent on “Regulator Rectifier Device and Method for Regulating an Output Voltage of the Same”. Flash’s R&D department had come up with the revolutionary invention back in 2018 and had patented it then from the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). The company had since then, been enjoying the privilege of being the key manufacturer and supplier of this component to many leading two-wheeler manufacturers in India and overseas.
The regulator-rectifier is the component responsible for converting the AC voltage produced in motorcycle engines to DC voltage that can then be used to charge the batteries, power the headlights, light up the instrument panel and the like.
Flash Electronics holds the patent for the same in many European countries like Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Turkey etc and the authorities have confirmed the company’s decision to file similar suits here as well.
Commenting on the incident, Mr. Sanjeev Vasdev, Founder and Managing Director, Flash Electronics India Pvt Ltd said “Flash Electronics is a responsible and mature member of the automotive community, manufacturing cutting edge engineering products since decades and is recognized on a global automotive front for its strong in-house R&D capabilities. We have been trusted suppliers to leading auto manufacturers across India and overseas and it’s unfortunate to have to deal with such an unexpected and unprecedented act on the part of Royal Enfield, one of the most prestigious names in the automotive sector. This incident is highly objectionable and has dented the credibility of the brand, at least with us as a partner”.
Mr Vasudev also mentioned that Flash was approached by 3 senior officials of Royal Enfield on 12th October 2018 for an amicable settlement of the issue, but Royal Enfield did not address the issue properly, thus lending the outcome of the meeting of no use in avoiding the Flash Electronics Royal Enfield legal war.
Flash is now determined to take every action required globally, to ensure that Royal Enfield stops infringing the patent and pays compensation for the violation so far, which essentially would amount to millions of USD.
