Hero MotoCorp

Hero MotoCorp announces collab with California (USA) based electric motorcycle and powertrain manufacturer, Zero MotorcyclesZero Electric MotorcyclesHero MotoCorp is finalizing a collaboration agreement with Zero Motorcycles. The latter, a California (USA)-based manufacturer works with premium electric motorcycles, and powertrains. Hero will be investing in the US based company.India boasts of a larger than life two-wheeler industry. It’s not difficult to see how much more nuanced 2W penetration is as compared to private car purchases. Keeping this in mind, and the commitment made to improve the presence of electric vehicles by the end of the decade, it’s no surprise that the electric two-wheeler industry is a key focus area.Electric 2W industry growthWhile Electric vehicle market growth goals will be continually monitored and revised, one thing is for certain. Current business activity portends to growth in the short term. And considering just how young the e2W market is, no doubt multiple players are coveting market leadership positions. And herein lies great market potential.Electric two wheeler sales volumes are increasing but they contribute to a small percentage of total two wheeler sales. And the market is dominated by motorcycles across segments. And, growth in the e2W industry right now finds focus limited to electric scooters. In fact, the number of e-motorcycles available are rather few.Zero Electric MotorcycleCo-developing electric motorcyclesMajor disruptions are being attributed to new names in manufacturing, and one is yet to find a traditional two-wheeler manufacturer take the lead. So, with Hero MotoCorp announcing its entry, it’s an exciting time for the electric two wheeler space. Hero maintains leadership in the two-wheeler industry, and one expects big things from the manufacturer in the electric market.Zero Electric MotorcycleHero MotoCorp’s collaboration with Zero Motorcycles will focus on co-developing electric motorcycles. The company’s board approved an equity investment up to US$60 million in Zero Motorcycles. Hero MotoCorp is looking at organic and inorganic /collaboration initiatives in the electric vehicle market. For now, the manufacturer is geared up for its first electric 2W launch under its emerging mobility brand Vida. Product details will be available on October 7, 2022.Hero MotoCorp collaboration initiativesConsidering the number of new age manufacturers in the foray, it’s no surprise that smaller players are perfectly fine with associating with bigger names. The age of start-ups ensures business owners selling rather quickly after establishing a business. Where older manufacturers are concerned, collaborations have ensured efficiency on economies of scale.And with Hero MotoCorp being an established player, it could create ripples in the e2W industry through investments in multiple companies that align with its EV goals. This includes GoGoro, and Ather Energy. More

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

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

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

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