Hero MotoCorp

Hero Glamour XTECHero Glamour competes against other 125cc motorcycles such as Honda SP 125, Shine and Bajaj Pulsar 125
In December last year, Hero MotoCorp filed a trademark for the name ‘XTEC’ which was earlier suspected to be the company’s first electric motorcycle. However, as per the latest development, it is revealed that the moniker will be used by Hero in a whole different way.
The Xtech branding will be used as a suffix to a new range of Glamour which gets cosmetic and feature enhancements over the current model. In all probability, this will serve as the new top-spec trim of Glamour and will sit on top of the regular trims. There are unlikely to be any changes to the specifications of the motorcycle.
Hero Glamour XTEC
Cosmetic Updates
In terms of design, there are hardly any updates over the current model barring the subtle aesthetic variations. The bike gets three new colour options, all of which adopt a dark theme which are finished in matte colours.
These include Tecno Black, Grey Blue and Grey Red. The Techno Black option gets a white stripe across the panels and wheel rims while Grey Blue and Grey Red options get blue and red stripes respectively running across the grey panels of the bike along with similar shades on rims.
Hero Glamour XTEC
Feature Upgrades
In terms of features, Glamour Xtec gets a new LED headlight and a fully digital instrument console compatible with Bluetooth connectivity. The console reads out data from the speedometer, tachometer, odometer, gear position indicator, service due indicator and RTMI.
Hero Glamour XTEC
Like all Hero bikes, Glamour is also offered with i3s technology which is Hero’s version of start/stop feature which allows the two-wheeler to kill off the engine when idle for a long time. In the same way, it also facilitates the start of an engine by opening throttle and pulling the clutch lever, thus saving a precious amount of fuel. Like the regular Glamour, Xtec should also come with Auto Sail Technology, which is essentially a crawl assist.
Mechanical Specs
The Xtech name is related to a new technology equipped with the engine, although details at the moment are very sparse. It will, however, use the same 124.7cc fuel-injected powertrain that is likely to return an output of 10.72 bhp and a peak torque of 10.6 Nm. in the BS6 iteration, it gets a new 5-speed gearbox instead of an older 4-speed unit. The motorcycle weighs 122kg and has a fuel tank capacity of 10 liters.
Hero Glamour XTEC
Coming to its hardware setup, the bike is underpinned by a diamond-type frame which is suspended on telescopic forks at front and hydraulic shock absorbers at rear. Braking is handled by 130mm drum brakes on both 18-inch alloy wheels while a 240mm disc brake is available as an option. Safety net is provided by Hero’s Integrated Braking System which is essentially a CBS.
SOURCE More

Image – The Bengal RiderHero MotoCorp has resumed single shift operations on all its manufacturing facilities from the second half of May
Amidst the raging second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, Hero MotoCorp has managed to sell 1,83,044 two-wheelers in May 2021. Keeping the unprecedented rise in fresh infections, the manufacturer shut down all operations at all its manufacturing facilities across the country from April 22, 2021.
Given the fresh lease of life given to the deadly virus, Hero claims the sales volume registered in May this year is not comparable to the corresponding month of the previous year as well as sequential months of this year. Despite the lockdowns imposed across various states of the country which led to limited sales and production, the company managed a YoY growth.
More Details
Hero witnessed a YoY increment of 62.44 percent since it sold 112,682 units in May 2020. However, the numbers were 50.83 percent less than 372,285 units sold in April this year. Out of 1,83,044 two-wheelers sold last month, 1,78,706 units were motorcycles while 4,338 units were scooters. These figures include both domestic sales and exports.
In May last year, the bikemaker sold 1,06,038 motorcycles and 6,644 scooters which resulted in YoY growth of 68 percent and a decrease in YoY sales by 34.71 percent respectively. In April this year, Hero registered sales of 339,329 motorcycle units and 32,956 scooter units in April 2021, which are substantially more in terms of volume.
Hero MotoCorp Sales – May 2021
The world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer sold 159,561 units domestically in May 2021 in comparison to 108,848 units sold during the same month last year. This translates to YoY growth of 46.59 percent. Leading products sold by Hero for May 2021 include Splendor, HF Deluxe, Passion, etc. While best-selling scooters include Pleasure, Maestro, Destini, etc
The numbers for exports stood at 23,483 units as opposed to 3,834 units exported in May last year. This resulted in a staggering YoY growth of 512.49 percent. The bikemaker sold 342,614 units in the domestic market and shipped 29,671 units to overseas markets in April 2021.
Resumption of Operations
The company decided to resume single-shift operations on three of its manufacturing plants located in Gurugram, Haridwar and Dharuhera from May 17. This was followed by resumption of operations of the other three facilities located in Neemrana, Halol and Chittoor from May 24. Hero, in its recent media release, stated that it continues to monitor the situation closely and will move to double-shift production gradually.
The brand hopes that with the vaccination drive gaining pace and a sharp decline in the number of Covid positive cases, markets across the country could open up gradually. This will aid in the swift recovery of businesses in the coming weeks. The company also added that currently all its corporate offices are in Work from Home (WFH) mode and a very small number of its employees are allowed in offices on a rotation basis for the continuity of essential services. More

Image – Biker Babu Bike hunterHero Splendor and HF Deluxe remained top-selling models in both domestic and exports
The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has been extremely disastrous not just healthwise but also financially since businesses across the country came to a standstill once again very much similar to last year around the same time. The auto industry of the country too had to bear the brunt last month when sales plummeted drastically.
Domestic- Splendor, HF Deluxe Lead sales figures
Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler company, witnessed a decline in MoM sales by 37.04 percent in April 2021. The manufacturer was able to sell a total of 3,42,704 units of two-wheelers which is 2,01,836 units less than what was sold the previous month in March.
The list was spearheaded by the brand’s most popular product- Splendor which recorded a sales volume of 1,93,598 units last month as opposed to 2,80,090 units retailed in March this year. This resulted in a decline in MoM sales by 30.88 percent.
It was followed by another entry-level motorcycle HF Deluxe which registered a sales volume of 71,294 units in April. A decline in figure by 73,511 units translated to a negative MoM growth of 50.66 percent.
Hero Domestic Sales Breakup April 2021
Others too register MoM decline
Glamour took third place with 23,627 units in April 2021 as compared to 32,371 units sold the previous month, thus registering an MoM decline of 27.01 percent. Hero’s most popular scooter Pleasure registered sales of 18,298 units last month which was 10,218 units less than the previous month. It recorded degrowth of 35.83 percent. It was followed by Passion at the fifth spot with 17,748 units sold in April. In March, the figures for the 110cc motorcycle stood at 30,464, therefore, recording an MoM decline of 41.74 percent.
Destini (9,121 units), Maestro Edge (4,680 units), Xtreme 160R (2,293 units) and Xpulse 200 (2,045 units) formed the rest of the range for Hero’s domestic portfolio. All two-wheelers recorded negative MoM growths of 35.05 percent, 41.54 percent, 40.29 percent and 17.71 percent.
Exports
Things weren’t too pleasing for overseas markets as exports were hit badly due to disruption in production. A total of 29,671 two-wheelers were shipped to foreign markets in April this year by Hero MotoCorp.
Hero Exports Breakup April 2021
In comparison to March 2021, these numbers were less by 2,946 units which resulted in a MoM decline of 9.03 percent. HF Deluxe spearheaded the exports for April with 8,716 units dispatched to overseas markets. With 375 units less than March 2021, it translated to degrowth of 4.12 percent.
HF Deluxe was followed by Splendor which registered exports of 5,194 units in April against 7,106 units dispatched in March. This resulted in a negative MoM growth of 26.91 percent. All models, barring Xpulse 200 and Glamour, recorded a decline in exports. Hero shipped 3,026 units and 3,012 units of both motorcycles, therefore, registering positive MoM growths of 27.41 percent and 219.75 percent. More

Gogoro Electric ScooterBesides Gogoro, Hero MotoCorp is also looking to develop its own range of electric two-wheelers starting with an electrified version of Maestro Edge
As mentioned in our previous report, Hero MotoCorp has been planning to launch its own dedicated lineup of EVs and recently announced a major partnership with Taiwanese EV brand Gogoro. Apparently, the Indian bikemaker will seek the expertise of Gogoro in battery swapping technology and could also launch a couple of its rebadged models in India.
In the latest development, it has come to light that Gogoro has filed patents for its Viva electric scooter in India. These trademarks are in the form of both its design as well as its name. This e-scooter could be launched and marketed in India under Hero MotoCorp’s dealerships under the Indian company’s dedicated brand of electric two-wheelers.
Gogoro Electric Scooter
The trademark application dates back a few months, hence it can be concluded that plans of launching an EV have been on Hero’s mind for a long time now. Due to a family pact with Hero Electric, Hero MotoCorp would have to launch its electric two-wheelers under a separate brand name so as not to create confusion. The new brand name will be revealed ahead of its first electric two-wheeler launch.
Powertrain Specs
Coming back to Gogoro Viva, it looks like a cute little scooter that weighs a meagre 80 kilos including the battery pack and motor. It is offered in two variants- basic and keyless and is powered by a motor that produces 3kW (4 bhp) of power and 115 Nm of peak torque.
Gogoro Electric Scooter
When driven at a consistent speed of 30kmph it can deliver a range of 85km on a single charge. The India-spec model is expected to be offered with the same specifications while its launch is slated to take place sometime in 2022.
Features on offers
Notable features on offer include a quirky design, Synchronized Braking System (SBS), smart sensors, all-LED lighting, iQ System Smart Keycard, USB charging port, fixed step bar and a digital instrument console with an LCD negative display with backlight. The top-spec trim gets additional smartphone connectivity and a keyless go feature. It gets a 21.6-litre under-seat storage capacity.
Other Mechanical details
Hardware configurations of the electric scooter comprise telescopic forks at front and dual rear shocks at rear. The scooter rides on 10-inch alloy wheels which are shod by 90/90-section rubber at front and 100/90-section tyre at the rear.
Stopping duties are carried out by 180mm disc brakes at both front and rear ends. In terms of dimensions, Viva measures 1,680mm in length, 630mm in width and 1,050mm in height while it offers a wheelbase of 1,164mm. The saddle is pegged at a very accessible height of 740mm. More

Hero Maestro Electric Scooter. Credit – 91 WheelsHero MotoCorp will rival the likes of Bajaj, TVS, Ather, Okinawa and other electric two-wheeler manufacturers in India
While Hero MotoCorp is undoubtedly the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world, it is yet to actively venture into electric mobility like its immediate rivals Bajaj Auto and TVS MotoCorp (no Hero Electric is a separate entity altogether). Even though company chairman Pawan Munjal has invested heavily in Ather Energy, a brand like Hero with so many resources is bound to have an electric lineup of its own.
The two-wheeler manufacturer has now announced that it will launch its first electric product by the end of the fiscal year of FY2021-22, which means between January and March next year. The development was confirmed by company CFO, Niranjan Gupta, in an interaction with a leading business news website.
Partnership With Gogoro
The brand is currently working on developing both fixed-battery and swappable battery EVs. The latter type is being developed in association with Hero MotoCorp’s Taiwanese partner Gogoro. The electric scooters and motorcycles will make use of Gogoro’s technology and will be sold and marketed by Hero. In fact, in addition to its own models, Hero MotoCorp could also launch rebadged Gogoro scooters although nothing is confirmed as of now.
Due to a family pact with Hero Electric, Hero MotoCorp would have to launch its electric two-wheelers under a separate brand name so as not to create confusion. This new brand name will be announced close to the launch of its first electric two-wheeler. Maybe we could get a sneak peek into the upcoming brands at the AutoExpo scheduled for February 2022 (if it were to happen).
Gogoro Electric Scooter
Electric Maestro Edge
Hero’s first electric two-wheeler is expected to be based on Maestro Edge which has also been spotted testing on a couple of occasions a few months back. The e-scooter is currently being developed at the company’s R&D centre in Jaipur (CIT). A prototype of the e-scooter made its first public appearance at the Hero World event last year.
On first glance, the electric scooter looks very similar to its IC engine-powered counterpart. However, on a closer look, one can notice subtle cosmetic variations. For instance, the biggest difference is the absence of an exhaust setup complemented by contrasting gold-coloured alloy wheels and front forks. Other styling elements included a smoked LED headlamp and blacked-out visor and rearview mirrors.
The bikemaker is still tight-lipped about the e-scooter’s specifications regarding its powertrain although it is expected to utilise a belt-driven motor. As far as features go, it is expected to be offered with three ride modes including drive, park and reverse which could be controlled from the left-hand side switchgear.
The fully digital instrument cluster from the petrol-powered scooter is expected to be carried forward in this electric iteration. Other features likely to be on offer include keyless start/stop and internet connectivity.
SOURCE More

Honda ActivaHonda 2Wheelers reports total (domestic wholesales and exports) sales in April 2021 at 2,83,045 units
The market is a strange place now. In a most astounding fashion, Bajaj has surpassed Honda Two Wheelers total sales in April 2021. This is on account of notable growth in exports for Bajaj.
Total sales stood at just below 3.5 lakh units. Honda Two Wheelers sold a total of 2,83,045 units. MoM decline stood at 31.14 percent, down from 4,11,037 units. Volume decline stood at 1,27,992 units. Best sellers include Activa, CB Shine, Dio, Grazia, Unicorn, Dream, Hornet, etc. CB350 too recorded decent sales.
Honda Sales April 2021
Of this, domestic sales stood at 2,40,100 units. MoM decline stood at 39.22 percent, down from 3,95,037 units. Volume decline stood at 1,54,937 units. Exports for the month are reported at 42,945 units. MoM growth was reported at 3 figures, up from 16k units. Volume gain stood at 26,945 units.
Temp production halt
Disruption in production, processes, supply chain, and distribution networks is a matter that manufacturers are having to deal with on a daily basis. Through April 2021, Covid-19 infection numbers being reported have continued to touch new highs.
This in turn has prompted states to announce curated lockdowns yet again. This is not too different from what auto manufacturers experienced in April 2021 when manufacturing and sales had come to an absolute halt.
And given the current need to proritise on safety, and save lives, a number of manufacturers have announced a production halt for a varying number of days. Starting on Labour Day, Honda Two-Wheelers has temporarily halted production until May 15, 2021. The shutdown will be used effectively to advance annual maintenance schedules.
Decisions in regard to resuming production will be made in accordance with the what the Covid-19 situation looks like in a fortnight. For now, those who can work from home are doing so, and only essential staff is being called in to work at the company’s plants, and offices.
HMSI scope
On the global front, Honda is working on electric motorcycles and scooters. Given the potential India supposedly has, one could expect a Honda electric scooter to be a first product from the brand here.
Honda Two Wheelers India plays an important part in Honda’s global strategy. For one, Honda has a large marketshare in India. And in the last two decades, it has expanded its global footprint from here through exports. Last year with the introduction of CB350, HMSI has chalked out a new path to make inroads.
For one, this is a sizeable segment in India with rather few competitors where brands are concerned. It’s more like Royal Enfield pitting its bikes against each other. And Honda has finally put it’s foot through the door. It’s 350cc range isn’t just being sold here, but is also being exported. More

Image – Indian IdentityHero MotoCorp sees subdued sales in April 2021 owing to temp closure of plant ops, and closure of dealerships across regions

As Covid-19 infections continue to reach new highs in India, the auto industry is blighted by its spread. Depending on strategies to arrest growth, in recent week many a state government has issued lockdown orders.
This apart, manufacturers are dealing with shortage of parts and interrupted supply chains. While the market hasn’t completely shutdown as was the case in April 2020, current challenges are many.
In this atmosphere of uncertainty, Hero MotoCorp has reported domestic wholesales at 3,42,614 units. The auto manufacturer has also extended plant closures by 6 days to arrest the spread of Covid-19. Operations will be resumed on May 10, 2021. Including exports, total sales in April 2021 is reported at 3,72,285 units. MoM decline stood at 35.47 percent, down from 5,76,957 units. Volume decline is reported at just over 2 lakh units.
Sales in April 2021
Of total sales, motorcycles sales in the domestic market continues to lead from the front. Wholesales was reported at 3,39,329 units accounting for 91.15 percent of domestic sales. MoM decline stood at 35.32 percent, down from 5,24,608 units. Volume loss stood at 1,85,279 units.
Hero MotoCorp Sales April 2021
Scooter sales is reported at 32,956 units accounting for the remainder of domestic sales. MoM decline stood at 37.05 percent, down from 52,349 units. Volume loss stood at 19,393 units. Exports are reported at 29,671 units, accounting for 7.97 percent of total sales. MoM decline is reported at 9 percent, down from 32,617 units at volume loss at just under 3k units.
Hero says sales in April ’21 was subdued owing to temporary closure of plant ops, and the fact that retail outlets remain have again been shut across many regions. These are state issued orders planned to stop the spread of the current devastation of the pandemic. As manufacturing and dealer dispatches remained shut in April 2020, there is no comparable YoY data for manufacturers for April 2021.
Hero extends closure at plants
Hero is committed to safety and has stopped work at its manufacturing facilities in IndiaIndia, its Global Parts Center (GPC) in Neemrana, and the R&D facility – the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur till May 9, 2021. Plant ops will resume on May 10th.
All corporate offices are on Work from Home (WFH) mode, and personnel that are required to visit office are doing so on a limited and rotational basis. The situation is being monitored continuously, and Hero MotoCorp aims to compensate for production loss during the remainder of the quarter. More