Hero MotoCorp, formerly known as Hero Honda, is a scooter and motorcycle auto firm based in the capital city of New Delhi. Hero Honda was started off as a joint venture between Honda of Japan and Hero Cycles of India in 1984. In 2010, the two firms split up and Hero got renamed to Hero MotoCorp. On October 10th, the firm unveiled 15 new products including major ones like Karizma R, ZMR and Splendor I-Smart and a new variant of its immensely popular scooter, Pleasure. All of these are expected to hit the market in the remaining part of the current financial year.
"It has just been over two years since we commenced our solo journey, and in such a short span of time, we have made significant up gradation of our existing line-up, incorporating next generation technology and features. This is also a reiteration of our capability to develop indigenous technologies," said Pawan Munjal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Hero MotoCorp.
The customers get to witness upgradation in the high-end bike Karizma that happens to be the first commercial production model, in which U.S. based partner Erik Buell Racing (EBR) has played a significant role since their tie-up. The bikes, Karizma R and Karizma ZMR get twin headlights, reworked body panels, a bulb winker, a belly pan, a redesigned seat, a sportier handlebar, wider tyres and new exhaust end-canister. Coming to commuter motorcycles, Splendor iSmart is also a part of the new line-up from the firm. It is characterised by a first-in-class fuel saving start-stop system, according to which the engine is shut down while the bike is standing still. It gets some refreshed cosmetic changes such as new paint schemes, body panels, graphics and restyled instruments.
Other models such as HF Dawn, HF Deluxe, Splendor Pro and Super Splendor would get new instruments, graphics and side stand indicator warning lights. Besides these, HF Deluxe Eco comes as a new add-on to Hero’s commuter line-up that would get air foils on the crash guards, low rolling friction tyres and new aerodynamic rear-view mirrors. Hero’s Glamour and Glamour FI bikes will also sport new racy graphics.
The highly successful automatic scooter by Hero MotoCorp, Pleasure, would now come with a special feature of linked brakes or the Integrated Braking System (IBS). This feature is also available in its rival Honda Activa, in which brakes to the front and rear wheels are simultaneously applied. The firm has plans to introduce this system in all its automatic scooters to be launched in future. Other salient features include lockable glove box, mobile charging point, combination ignition lock, indicator for an open seat, side stand and a light for the under seat storage compartment.
Maximum number of new offerings are expected to launch in the October-December time span so as to cash in more buyers during the festive season. This time period happens to be the most flourishing period for any automobile firm as customers consider purchasing a new vehicle to be auspicious. The company has not only upgraded existing models but is also working on innovations developed at its Research and Development department. As per reports, Hero MotoCorp is presently working on devising the cheapest bike in the market. According to Munjal, the company, in 2011, had promised 50 new products in three years. 15 have already arrived in the market and 35 are still remaining to see light. It also has plans to enter new markets of Turkey and Egypt in the coming future.
