More stories

  • in

    Hero Vida Electric Scooter To Offer Best In Class Features

    Hero MotoCorp can now use the word “Hero” to market their upcoming Vida range of electric 2W productsImage for illustration purpose.Hero MotoCorp was supposed to launch Vida electric scooter brand on July 1st. But due to global semiconductor shortages and the injunction raised by Hero Electric, it took quite a lot more time for Vida launch to happen. But Hero MotoCorp has won the case against Hero Electric and can now use the word “Hero” to market their EV products.Both companies banking on the word “Hero” is likely to create some confusion among buyers. But Hero MotoCorp has created a new brand, a new logo and a whole new identity to negate most of that confusion. Vida is promising a different approach towards electric scooters with swappable battery tech.Even though both Hero MotoCorp and Hero Electric are spawned from the same Munjal family, they have been different companies for decades. Now that they’re clashing in the same 2W EV segment, both had to witness legalities. But Vida is Hero MotoCorp’s first ever attempt at EVs while Hero Electric has been at it for a long time. In fact, Hero Electric is the highest-selling 2W EV manufacturer in the country.Hero Vida Electric ScooterHero MotoCorp has registered various trademarks that revolve around the name Vida. This means that the company is planning to launch multiple products and associated services as well. Some of the trademarks are Vida Mobility, Vida Electric, Vida MotoCorp, Vida EV, Vida Motorcycles and Vida Scooters.Hero Vida Electric Scooter – Best In Class FeaturesThe debut of Hero MotoCorp’s Vida lineup is set to happen on October 7th. The company even launched a new teaser as well. With legal niggles with Hero Electric ironed out, Hero MotoCorp can now push ahead and get the products closer to launch. Coming to the range of 2W EV products that Vida will bring is not yet known. Hero MotoCorp has kept the details tightly wrapped and we haven’t seen any of the leaks and whatnot. That cannot be said about LML’s upcoming electric scooter that is likely to be called Star and also a pedaled electric motorcycle with USD forks and ADV-inspired design.What To Expect?Coming to its powertrain, Hero Vida range is likely to get swappable batteries as revealed by the company. This comes courtesy of a strategic partnership with Gogoro, a Taiwanese-based company that has expertise in building and maintaining battery swapping infrastructure. Other partnerships include Ather Energy which is likely to provide its charging grid and equipment and a few other EV components.Hero MotoCorp has always associated itself with value and affordability. If we take a look at Hero’s entire lineup, these attributes hold strong across the range. These attributes are also likely to be translated to its Vida electric scooter lineup as well. Coming from mainstream manufacturers, we can also expect quality engineering to some degree.Hero Vida Electric Scooter – Swappable Battery TechThe main emphasis on EVs nowadays is on safety. Hero MotoCorp is likely to make a battery pack that packs some amount of fireproofing too. Given the price point at which Vida products are likely to come, we can’t expect fancy features that are found on startup electric scooters from Ola and Ather. In its latest teaser, Hero reveals that Vida can be charged at home, parking lot, and at their public charging stations.Only, Hero doesn’t directly own public charging stations. This is where Gogoro and Ather are likely to come into picture. Hero Vida series will be unveiled on October 7th and a launch is likely to follow soon. More details will be revealed on October 7th. Rivals are in the form of TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak and upcoming Honda electric scooter among many. More

  • in

    Hero Xtreme 160R Stealth 2.0 Launch Price Rs 1.3 L – Apache Rival

    Hero MotoCorp has kept the Xtreme 160R untouched in terms of mechanicals with visual and feature upgradesNew Hero Xtreme 160R Stealth Edition 2.0Hero MotoCorp is currently the highest-selling motorcycle manufacturer in India. With budget commuters like Splendor and HF Deluxe series, Hero is pushing on and on. For every 2W manufacturer in the country, the time periods revolving around Dussehra and Diwali are prime times. Pushing the sales envelope at this time is paramount.Manufacturers offer discounts, bonuses, benefits and other paraphernalia. However, special editions of existing products are also a smart directive to garner more sales. Hero MotoCorp has done the same with its Xtreme 160R. Called Xtreme 160R Stealth 2.0 Edition, it is an extension of the Stealth Edition that was already on offer.Launched at Rs. 1,29,738 (ex-sh, Delhi), this is a Rs. 6,000 increment over the previous Stealth Edition which was launched at Rs. 1,23,806 (ex-sh, Delhi). Let’s take a look at everything new.New Hero Xtreme 160R Stealth 2.0 EditionWith Stealth Edition 2.0, we feel that Hero Motors has kinda negated the meaning that the word “Stealth” should evoke. We say this because Stealth Edition 2.0 gets a lot of red accents (not in a subtle way) to give it a new look. But it is likely that a lot of customers might feel that this is not stealthy like the first Stealth Edition was.[embedded content][embedded content]We get added goodies like knuckle guards as standard fitment along with a neatly integrated belly shroud too. Xtreme 160R Stealth 2.0 Edition gets a mysterious matte black shade, with striking red accents on the telescopic fork, frame, pillion grip further and multiple other places. If Hero had added these additions without the red elements, Stealth 2.0 Edition could have been a lot more stealthy. But buyer perceptions vary.Malo Le Masson, Head of Strategy and Global Product Planning, Hero MotoCorp, said, “The Hero Xtreme 160R Stealth edition received a tremendous response from customers, enthusiasts, and experts alike. It instantly became the motorcycle of choice for customers who have a unique style that stands out from the rest of the crowd. This new edition is both Stealth and Smart, with a black livery signed by red accents, for the passionate riders, and our Cloud connected system Connect 1.0, for the tech-savvy consumers. Stealth and smart, this is the Hero Xtreme Stealth 2.0.”Specs & FeaturesIn terms of feature additions, Xtreme 160R Stealth 2.0 Edition gets Hero Connect suite as standard which was optional with previous Stealth Edition. The embedded Hero Connect app promises an enhanced riding experience and safety with this edition. It enables geofence alerts, speed alerts, topple alerts, tow away alerts and unplug alerts.New Hero Xtreme 160R Stealth Edition 2.0Mechanically, Hero Xtreme 160R Stealth 2.0 Edition is untouched. It is a good thing. It is powered by a 163cc air-cooled BS-VI compliant engine. This engine delivers an impressive power output of 15.2 PS at 6500 RPM and 14 Nm of torque. The main forte for Xtreme 160R was its 139 kg weight which is unrivaled even today. At Rs. 1.29 lakh, Xtreme 160 Stealth 2.0 Edition takes on the likes of Honda X-Blade, Yamaha FZ, Bajaj Pulsar NS160, and newly launched Pulsar N160 and TVS Apache RTR 160. More

  • in

    Hero Vida Electric Scooter Launch Teaser – More Than A Scooter

    All new Hero Vida Electric scooter will be launched on 7th October – First official teaser outImage for illustration purpose.Coming from India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Vida electric scooter was one of the most awaited launches this year. Even more so, as this will be the first electric two-wheeler to be launched by the company.Hero MotoCorp has plans to launch multiple EV products as well as related services in the coming years. This is evident in the various trademark names registered such as Vida Mobility, Vida Electric, Vida MotoCorp, Vida EV, Vida Motorcycles and Vida Scooters.Hero Vida Electric Scooter LaunchVida electric scooter was scheduled for launch on July 1. However, due to ongoing global shortage of auto components such as semiconductors, launch had to be delayed. As Hero MotoCorp does not want to create issues like delay in deliveries, launch of Vida EV will now take place on 7th October.In recent past, several EV companies have had to face consumers’ ire due to delay in deliveries. Hero MotoCorp does not want to create any such hassles for customers. It is better to delay the launch than to take bookings and keep customers waiting. Ahead of launch, Hero MotoCorp has shared the first official launch teaser of their new Vida electric scooter.[embedded content][embedded content]Vida electric scooter USPsThings like affordability and reliability are synonymous with Hero MotoCorp. These benefits are likely to be made available for Vida range of EVs as well. Not many details about the scooter are available at this point of time, as the company has managed to keep things tightly under wraps. However, it is likely that Vida electric scooter will have a sporty design, along with a range of utilitarian features.Powering the Hero Vida Electric scooter could be a mid-ship mounted motor that sends power to the rear wheels via a belt drive system. The scooter is likely to get 12-inch and 10-inch alloy wheels at front and rear, respectively. Suspension system will comprise telescopic forks at front and a swingarm unit at rear.Unlike Ola, Ather, Chetak, iQube, etc. that utilize non-removable battery packs, Vida electric scooter is likely to get removable battery option. Hero MotoCorp has partnered with Gogoro, a Taiwan-based company that specializes in building and maintaining battery swapping infrastructure.While battery swapping is hugely popular in Taiwan, it remains to be seen if it can be successfully executed in India. From consumers’ perspective, battery swapping offers multiple benefits such as reduced cost of ownership. Also, wait time for battery refuelling is reduced and customers don’t have to worry about things like battery maintenance and replacement. More

  • in

    New Hero Maestro Xoom Scooter Spied – Honda Activa Rival

    While Hero leads in motorcycle segment, its scooter portfolio doesn’t have any segment bestsellers like Honda Activa or TVS JupiterNew Hero Maestro Xoom Scooter SpiedApart from Hero MotoCorp, other two-wheeler manufacturers have also launched products to take on Activa. However, sales numbers indicate that Activa continues to dominate. In August 2022, Activa had close to 50% market share among the top 10 scooters in the month.In case of Hero MotoCorp, it’s 110cc scooters like Pleasure and Maestro Edge 110 are way behind Activa. While Pleasure was at sixth spot in August, Maestro Edge did not even make it in top ten. In an attempt to fix this gap, Hero will soon launch a new 110cc scooter named Maestro Xoom. The new name has already been registered by the company, with trademark approval received earlier this year in June.New Hero Maestro Xoom Scooter SpiedWith the Maestro prefix, it would be safe to assume that the new scooter will have most of the features currently offered with Maestro Edge scooter. Maestro Xoom will not stop at that; instead, it will come with an additional set of features to emerge as a more capable rival to Honda Activa. Hero’s new scooter was showcased at a dealer event and only limited information is available as of now.One of the key upgrades for Hero Maestro Xoom is a full digital instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity. Users should be able to pair their smartphones to access phone functions like calls, SMS, music, etc. Things like ride analytics and remote functions may also be available. Hero’s current breed of 110cc scooters like Pleasure and Maestro Edge 110cc are equipped with a semi-digital instrument console. Latest spy shots of the new Hero Maestro XOOM are credited to X Automobile.New Hero Maestro Xoom Scooter SpiedHero Maestro Xoom can be more economical, as it will have the company’s proprietary i3S technology. i3S can sense when the engine is idling, for example, at a traffic signal. In such situations, it automatically shuts down the engine. The scooter restarts on its own when the clutch is engaged by the rider. i3S is primarily designed to save fuel. It can be activated via a dedicated switch on the handlebar. Users can keep it switched off if they like.Other key differentiating factors for Hero Maestro Xoom include cornering headlamp and 12-inch alloy wheels at front and rear. Existing Maestro Edge has 12-inch front and 10-inch rear wheels. Visually, the silhouette looks familiar to Maestro Edge 110cc. However, Maestro Xoom has a completely refreshed front fascia with Apron-mounted X-styled headlamp. Rear tail lamp also gets the ‘X’ treatment.Hero Maestro Xoom performanceHero is unlikely to make any performance tweaks to Maestro Xoom, as the current motor doesn’t seem lacking in performance. The 110.9 cc, air cooled motor onboard Maestro Edge generates 8 hp of max power at 7,250 rpm and 8.7 Nm of peak torque at 5,750 rpm. It is mated to a variomatic drive.Hero Maestro Xoom is likely to be positioned above existing Maestro Edge 110cc, thereby commanding a slightly premium pricing. Hero Maestro Edge 110cc is available at Rs 66,820 (drum) and Rs 73,498 (disc variant). More

  • in

    2022 Hero Splendor New Colour Launched – Silver Nexus Blue

    Splendor Plus is one of the few products to come on a 100cc platform to offer more frugalityHero Splendor New Colour LaunchHero MotoCorp has knocked it out of the park completely when it comes to budget commuters. Rivals often seem like they’re not in the same league. Heck, some rivals don’t even feel like they’re in the same sport. Such is the popularity that revolves around Splendor’s name.A pedigree like this, often makes competitors yearn for more success. But, to keep themselves ahead like they are now, Hero offers a slew of colour choices, engine choices and even features like XTEC connectivity for Splendor range. A combination of which makes a product what it is today, a force to be reckoned with. To keep the winning streak going, Hero has now added a new colour. Let’s take a look.Hero Splendor New Colour – Silver Nexus BlueHero MotoCorp sold 2,86,007 units of Splendor in August 2022. This volume consists of all the motorcycles that fall under Splendor branding. Like Splendor Plus, Splendor Plus XTEC, Super Splendor and Splendor iSmart 110. Splendor is backed up by HF Deluxe, Passion and Glamour brands to make Hero MotoCorp undisputed king of budget commuters. Honda is coming up with a new 100cc bike too.To put it into context, Honda CB Shine takes second place and sold just 1,20,139 units in the same month with declining sales YoY. Compared to motorcycles, Honda has seen more success in the scooter segment. Any update, no matter how small, is quite a big thing for Splendor series considering the scale at which it sells.[embedded content][embedded content]In that light, Hero has added a fresh new colour palette to the mix. This new colour option was on offer a long time ago and has been added back into the mix recently. It gets a base silver colour, on which Hero branding is engulfed in Nexus blue shade. This Nexus Blue shade is further engulfed by a layer of dark grey and then, a dark olive green.Hero logo is integrated into its fuel tank graphics and is not a 3D metallic one. On the side panels, we can see Splendor+ badging along with i3S badging. i3S is Hero’s proprietary technology that enables stop-start functionality which further boosts fuel efficiency. Video is credited to Biker Mjk.Specs & FeaturesFor all you minimalism aficionados, Hero has a Matte Shield Gold shade that gets 3D Hero and Splendor+ lettering along with a single-tone gold palette. If you are willing to make your wallet lighter, Splendor Plus also gets an XTEC variant with a slew of connected features along with a fully digital instrument display. This bike gets a Canvas Black colour option that probably looks the neatest.Standard Splendor Plus gets a USB charger, 18” alloy wheels, a side stand indicator along with an engine cutoff sensor and switchable i3S tech. It is powered by a 97.2cc FI engine. It is capable of kicking out 7.9 bhp of power and 8.05 Nm of torque. This engine is coupled to a 4-speed gearbox. With this new colour, Hero is bringing back an iconic paint scheme. This might help Hero to eat further into the rival’s pies. As far as rivals are concerned, we have Bajaj Platina, Honda’s upcoming 100cc bike and then Hero’s own HF Deluxe in 100cc segment. More

  • in

    Hero Vida Electric Scooter Is Set To launch On 7th Of October

    Hero MotoCorp recently won the injunction raised by Hero Electric and can now use the word Hero to market their EVsHero MotoCorp Vida Electric ScooterEven though both Hero MotoCorp and Hero Electric are spawned from the same Munjal family, they are two entirely separate companies. Brijmohan Lall Munjal’s company is now Hero MotoCorp and Dayanand Munjal’s company is now Hero Electric. Vijay Munjal and his son Naveen Munjal head Hero Electric. And his cousin Pawan Munjal is CEO of Hero MotoCorp.The issue revolved around Hero MotoCorp using the trademark ‘Hero’ to market their upcoming EV range under Vida brand. If Hero MotoCorp sold their upcoming electric scooters without ‘Hero’ word or their existing dealership network, it would be fruitless for the company. However, Hero MotoCorp has won and now can use ‘Hero’ trademark.Hero Vida Electric ScooterWith this recent victory over Hero Electric, there are now fewer hurdles for Hero MotoCorp in getting its upcoming Vida line of electric scooters ready for launch. And we have a date for Vida e-scooter launch. It’s set to launch on October 7, 2022.Hero MotoCorp has filed patents for names like Vida, Vida MotoCorp, Vida EV, Vida Electric, Vida Scooters and Vida Motorcycles. Any one of these names or a combination might be utilized by the company. Now, that Hero MotoCorp can legally use the ‘Hero’ trademark, it’s left to be seen what the final naming pattern will be.Hero MotoCorp Electric Scooter – Under VIDA BrandNot a lot is known about this upcoming electric scooter line by Hero MotoCorp. One thing is for sure that, like all Hero MotoCorp offerings till date, Vida lineup will also be targeted at mainstream consumer market.What To Expect?For starters, Hero Vida Electric scooter is likely to be mass manufactured. If that is the case, we can expect Vida to be competitively priced. Whether or not Vida electric scooters are going to be number crunchers or not isn’t known, but for certain e-scooter volumes have noticeably improved in recent months.Hero MotoCorp is capable of marketing an e-scooter that’s cost competitive and built on decent engineering. That said, it’s first offering isnt likely to be a low speed e-scooter with top speed capped at 25 km/h either. Considering Hero’s prowess as a large volume seller, it will be interesting to see what level of frugal engineering dictates the fortunes of its electric two wheeler goals.Hero MotoCorp has filed trademark for the name VIDA ElectricIn terms of price and features, Hero Vida electric scooter isn’t likely to be the most expensive in the young e-scooter market. What Hero already has working for it is a well put together bouquet of ev tech. This includes swappable batteries in partnership with Gogoro, charging tech from Ather, and a hub motor. More info regarding the same will be announced by Hero MotoCorp on October 7th. More

  • in

    Hero MotoCorp Sales Aug 2022 – Splendor, Passion, Deluxe, Maestro

    Domestic sales of Hero MotoCorp increased significantly on YoY basis while exports fell by nearly 50 percent in August 2022New Hero SplendorTwo wheeler sales in India have seen an increase in the past month. Demand was boosted after a lull of 2 years and further augmented by a favorable monsoon season that boosted rural demand. The festive season has also caused more footfalls into company showrooms on auspicious dates while the weeks ahead could also bring in added sales for the company.Multiple new launches, among which were the Super Splendor 125 Canvas Black Edition and Hero Xpulse 200 4V Rally Edition, that latter which has just been opened for bookings, has also stirred up interest among buyers in the country.Hero MotoCorp Sales August 2022Hero MotoCorp motorcycle sales in August 2022 stood at 4,30,799 units, up from 4,20,609 units sold in August 2021. Top selling motorcycles from Hero include Splendor, Deluxe, Passion, Xpulse, Xtreme, etc. Scooter sales on the other hand, dipped marginally to 31,809 units in August 2022 down from 33,270 units sold in August 2021. Top selling Hero scooters include Destini, Maestro, etc. They are getting ready to launch a new 125cc scooter to rival TVS Ntorq.This took total two wheeler sales up 1.92 percent to 4,62,608 units in August 2022 as against 4,53,879 units sold in August 2021. It was also a MoM growth from 4,45,580 units sold in July 2022. Domestic sales of both motorcycles and scooters were at 4,50,740 units in August 2022 from 4,31,137 units sold in August 2021. Exports however, saw a YoY de-growth to 11,868 units in August 2022, from 22,742 units sold in August 2021 relating to a near 50 percent de-growth.Hero MotoCorp Sales Aug 2022Where motorcycle sales were concerned, there was also a YTD growth to 21,58,381 units in the FY 2022-23 period, an increase over 18,04,324 units sold in FY 2021-22. In terms of scooters, YTD sales improved to 1,40,000 units in the FY 2022-23 period from 1,28,460 units sold in the same period of the previous year.In domestic markets, Hero MotoCorp sales of motorcycles and scooters stood at 22,09,590 units in the FY 2022-23 period, up from 19,32,784 units sold in the same period of last year. Exports dipped to 88,791 units in the FY2022-23 period, down from 1,31,732 units sold in the same period last year. This took total sales to 22,99,381 units in the FY 2022-23 period, notably higher when compared to 19,32,784 units sold in the FY 2022-23 period.Xpulse Xperience CenterIn related news, Hero MotoCorp also opened its first ever ‘Xpulse Xperience Center’ in Bengaluru. It is designed for off-road riding with biking tracks and special infrastructure to offer Xpulse 200 4V riders a unique racing experience.Hero MotoCorp had also recently commenced deliveries of the limited-edition Xpulse 200 4V Rally Edition which is priced at Rs 1,52,100. 100 units that comprised the first batch have all been delivered to customers and bookings for the second batch are set to commence soon. Hero XPulse 200 4V Rally Edition comes in with several upgrades over the standard version of the bike and is powered by a 200cc single cylinder, oil cooled, fuel injected engine making 18.9 hp power and 17.35 Nm torque mated to a 5 speed gearbox. More

  • in

    Upcoming Hero 300cc Motorcycles Spied Up Close – New Spy Shots

    Hero MotoCorp seems to be launching 300 cc versions of all of its current 200 cc bikesUpcoming Hero Motorcycles 300cc segmentHero has been synonymous with budget commuters in India crashing sales charts month after month like a pawn in a chess game. But at the upper end of its price spectrum, Hero doesn’t enjoy much action like say, Royal Enfield enjoys. Currently, Hero has XPulse 200 off-roader, 200T tourer which will soon get a 4V head and Xtreme 200S.It is not that Hero doesn’t know how to make faired bikes or ADVs. Hero had the Karizma ZMR on which Hritik Roshan nullifies a freaking tornado with a 20 bhp bike weighing 157 kg. I mean, it was corny. But hey, we’re Indians and we love corny stuff.Hero also had the brilliant Impulse 150 ADV with 245mm ground clearance. With XPulse 200, Hero has taken its off-roading game literally a notch above with recently launched Rally Edition. So, they have a pedigree and with the upcoming 300cc platform, Hero is likely to shine bright. Also, Hero gets its pricing spot on, pretty much every time and a vast dealer network with maintenance costing peanuts doesn’t hurt either.Upcoming Hero 300cc MotorcyclesWhen Hero launched its 200cc platform, XPulse 200 off-roader rose to fame instantly owing to its brilliance. 200T tourer and Xtreme 200S didn’t receive much love from Indians as they were not as appealing as the former. But with 300cc platform Hero should work on making all three products equally appealing.Upcoming Hero Motorcycles 300cc segmentLast time, we saw three Hero motorcycles on test which was just two before. New set of spy shots also has three test mules and confirms that Hero is set to launch XPulse 300 Off-roader, 300T dual-sport and Xtreme 300S sport bike. Hero’s developments come at a time when mid-size segment is seeing steady growth with Royal Enfield leading the sales charts.Currently, XPulse 200T gets alloy wheels and mostly looks like a naked bike. But looking at the XPulse 300T, it seems to get a bikini fairing like we saw with Bajaj AS series and also a small front beak. It gets spoked wheels instead of alloys on 200T and gets block pattern tyres that are fatter than XPulse 300 off-roader. It also seems to get a stubby exhaust which is a lot smaller than XPulse 300 off-roader.Coming to the star of this show, we have an XPulse 300 off-roader which is what I’d bet my money on. It gets a split seat layout and looks like a much more substantial product in terms of size. It also seems to get a space frame like Himalayan to mount jerry cans. The tyres are skinnier than 300T and are visually a much taller machine. But the front wheel doesn’t look to be 21” as seen on XPulse 200. It might just be the angle in the picture, though. Take a look at the spy video below, credited to Unboxing Oneself.[embedded content][embedded content]Xtreme 300S Sports BikeComing to Xtreme 300S, it seems to embody the spirit of Karizma ZMR instead of 200S. We say this because Karizma ZMR was a thicc boi with a fat fairing. It was disproportionate from most angles too. 300S has a big fairing too, but it doesn’t look disproportionate as the bigger platform gets fatter wheels and other components. It is the only one to get alloy wheels too.When it comes to similarities between all three test mules, they have a few. For starters, let’s cover ‘first for a Hero’ components which are a trellis frame, a 300cc engine with around 30 bhp and 25 Nm, a 6-speed gearbox, liquid cooling, and front USD forks, to name a few. Other notable updates include a larger and squarish display for instrumentation and we can expect slightly better switchgear too. All three of these bikes will lock horns with similar motorcycles from TVS, Bajaj, Royal Enfield, Jawa, Yezdi and more. More