Hero MotoCorp

Hero MotoCorp sales figures are the highest in the country with ever-green heavy lifters like SplendorNew Hero SplendorHero MotoCorp is setting the stage to establish itself as an EV manufacturer. With legal niggles vs Hero Electric in the backseat, Hero MotoCorp will launch its Vida electric scooter on 7th Oct. The Indian automaker has also made strategic partnerships with Ather Energy and Gogoro. Hero is even setting alliances with Cali-based Zero EV for electric motorcycles.But petrol-powered budget commuters are where Hero really shines and in that regard, August 2022 is no different. Hero sold 2,86,007 units of Splendor with a massive volume gain of 44,304 units registering 18.33% YoY growth. With a 61.75% share of Hero’s total sales in India, Splendor is the highest- 2W in India.HF Deluxe is Hero’s cheapest offering. However, it has registered  36.96% drop in sales YoY. It only sold 72,224 units and forms 15.59% of Hero’s total sales. Passion and Glamour series are also commuters, but are offered at a slight premium over a few Splendor models. They sold 28,149 units and 27,613 units respectively and both of them registered positive sales growth of 90.04% and 16.28% respectively.Hero Sales Breakup August 2022Pleasure stands at 5th place and is not having all the fun as it registers a 3.55% drop in sales YoY with 16,589 units sold. Pleasure is still Hero’s highest-selling scooter. Followed by Destini which saw 35.87% YoY growth with 2,960 unit volume growth in August 2022. Xtreme 160R sold 3,602 units and gained 7.72% YoY. Hero recently launched a new Stealth 2.0 Edition for Xtreme 160R.Hero Sales Breakup August 2022 – DomesticMaestro series scooters sold 3,323 units and saw a 45.76% drop in sales YoY. Despite being last in this list, XPulse 200 sold 1,987 units as opposed to 1,314 units in August 2021 and saw 51.22% YoY growth. Hero’s total domestic sales stand at 4,50,707 units and register 4.55% YoY growth with 19,632 units volume growth.When it comes to exports, Hero Hunk tops the charts. Hero Hunk is long discontinued here in India. But it is being exported even today. Hunk shipped 2,749 units and registered a drop in sales of 57.60% YoY. Despite this, Hunk forms 23.16% of Hero’s total exports. Next in line is HF Deluxe which shipped just 2,451 units with a volume loss of 2,125 units over August 2021.Hero Exports Aug 2022HF Deluxe registered a 46.44% Drop in sales YoY and forms 20.65% of Hero’s total sales. In comparison, Glamour does a better job at holding sales numbers. With 2,388 units shipped, Glamour registers just 0.67% drop in sales YoY and holds a 20.12% share of this list.Hero Sales Breakup August 2022 – ExportsA shiny beacon in India, Splendor is not well received in global markets. With just 1,574 units shipped, Splendor registers a 70.72% drop in sales YoY. Off-roader XPulse popularity is going down in global markets as it saw a 53.35% drop in sales YoY. Passion shipped 990 units in August 2022.Pleasure is having some fun in export charts and with 372 units sold, it saw an 8.14% YoY growth. Next is Maestro with 312 units shipped, also falling in the red zone. Except for Pleasure, all of Hero’s exports have suffered de-growth YoY. Hero MotoCorp shipped 11,868 units in August 2022 with 10,874 units volume loss and registered 47.81% de-growth YoY when compared to August 2021. However, its arch-rival Honda is doing better in exports. More

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