Hero MotoCorp

Hero Splendor Black EditionAnalysing Hero sales breakup December 2023, it is clear that company’s premium products need a significant push to boost salesIndia’s largest 2W manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp, closed its accounts for the year 2023 with a total of 3,91,735 units (domestic + exports) sold in December 2023. When compared to the numbers of November 2023, there was a significant decline. However, the company is poised to rack up numbers in 2024 with a slew of new products.Hero Sales Breakup December 2023 – Domestic MarketAt this point, Splendor topping 2W sales with a huge lead has become quite a routine. That stayed true in December 2023 as well. With 2,27,748 units sold, Splendor accounted for 60.63% of Hero’s domestic sales. Splendor saw 1.02% YoY growth with 2,305 units volume gain YoY. For some reason, popularity of HF Deluxe seems to have dropped drastically.Numbers almost halved YoY at 43.34% YoY decline as Hero sold 61,056 HF Deluxe over 1,07,755 units sold in December 2022. Despite that, HF Deluxe accounted for 16.25% of Hero’s domestic sales. In 3rd place, we have Passion with 33,551 units sold and a staggering 1,273.47% YoY growth, gaining 31,274 units in volume YoY.4th position was secured by Pleasure which is Hero’s best-selling scooter in domestic market. Hero sold 24,862 Pleasures over 23,814 units sold last year and saw 4.4% YoY growth. Glamour secured 5th spot with 11,382 units. Compared to 8,163 units sold last year, Glamour gained 39.43% in sales YoY and 3,219 units in volume growth.Hero Sales Breakup December 2023 – DomesticDestini 125 is Hero’s second highest-selling scooter in India and contributed 10,191 units with 11.71% YoY growth. Relatively newer scooter, Xoom 110, saw just 2,102 units sold last month. Hero is poised to launch Xoom 125 and Xoom 160 in the coming months, which will be a boost for Hero’s new scooter design language.Karizma XMR 210 clocked 1,747 units, while Vida managed 1,120 units with 833.33% YoY growth. Hero’s Xpulse 200 ADV sold 1,105 units which is 23.33% YoY growth. Xtreme 160R 4V and Xtreme 200S 4V combined, clocked 736 units, which is a 47.43% YoY decline. In total, Hero’s total domestic sales stood at 3,75,625 units with a 1.50% YoY decline as opposed to 3,81,334 units sold a year ago.Exports (International Business)While Splendor topped domestic sales charts, it is Hero Hunk topped export charts. Hunk clocked 4,084 units and accounts for 25.35% of Hero’s total exports and saw 65.14% YoY growth. Hunk is different for different markets ranging from OG Hunk sold in India to Xtreme 160R rebadged as Hunk.Hero Sales Breakup December 2023 – ExportsHero shipped 3,874 units of HF Deluxe and it saw a 35.54% YoY decline and managed to capture 24.05% of Hero’s total exports. Xpulse 200 faired better abroad than it did in India by shipping 2,687 units and almost quadrupled its numbers at 196.58% YoY growth. Glamour and Splendor also quadrupled their numbers with 2,356 and 2,024 units sold respectively and registering 203.61% and 228.04% YoY growth respectively.Maestro’s shipments numbered 910, while Pleasure managed to ship 84 units and Karizma just 1. Hero’s total exports stood at 16,110 units. This is a 25.72% YoY growth over 12,814 units shipped in December 2022. Volume gain stood at 3,296 units. More

Hero Vida Sway Electric Scooter. Image – PowerDriftWith the Vida Sway scooter concept, Hero is probably looking at 4-5 years down the line when there’s greater acceptability for such productsAt the Hero World 2024, India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp has unveiled a range of new products and concepts. The list includes Xoom 125, Xoom 160, Mavrick 440, Vida V1 Coupe, EV concepts Lynx and Acro, Concept 2.5R XTunt and Surge S32 convertible vehicle. Also featured was a new electric trike concept, a first for the company.Hero Vida Sway trike concept detailsHero Vida Sway scooter concept has largely the same design as the standard Vida V1 electric scooter. It has the same front fascia, headlamp cowl and compact windscreen, 7-inch TFT touch display, all-LED lights with projector headlamp and flat floorboard area. The difference comes with the two wheels at the front. Both of these get independent suspension to allow improved stability and control when negotiating corners. Both wheels have disc brakes that are likely to work in tandem.Hero Vida Sway Electric ScooterAt the rear, Hero Vida Sway trike concept has a dedicated cargo carrier. Only the rider seat is available. Even this format does not require any changes to the frame, as the standard Vida scooter comes with customizable seating options. The pillion seat can be easily detached to increase storage space. Or even the rear storage section can be removed to achieve a compact, sportier profile for the scooter.Hero Vida Sway trike concept specs, rangeWhile Hero has not revealed any technical details about the Sway trike concept, it is likely to be the same as the standard Vida scooter. Addition of a wheel and linked suspension and brake parts could increase the weight of the trike by around 10-15 kgs. Range will be impacted, but that may not be a concern for most users. Vida offers a real-world range of 110 km and loss of a few kilometres shouldn’t create any major hassles. Hero may even offer long-range variants of the Sway trike.[embedded content]Standard Vida electric scooter has two 1.97 kWh removable batteries. The electric motor generates 6 kW (8.15 PS) of peak power and 25 Nm of max torque. Three modes of Eco, Ride and Sport are available. There’s a Custom mode as well with 100+ combinations.Hero Vida Sway Electric Scooter – launch possibilitiesWhile trikes are quite popular across international markets, they are not very common in India. Pricing could be a factor, as trikes are usually more expensive than the standard two-wheelers. But trikes can be quite useful for folks who need the enhanced stability and convenience associated with a 3-wheeled vehicle. Trikes are also preferred by individuals who may not have the physical strength to handle a standard two-wheeler.Hero has not provided any timelines for the launch of the Vida Sway trike concept. But with its low-cost manufacturing prowess, Hero can certainly make the Vida Sway trike more accessible to a wider segment of users. The company can even launch ICE-based trikes, which could be even cheaper than the electric versions. More

Hero Xtreme 125R Vs RivalsDespite its age, Pulsar NS125 holds up to Hero Xtreme 125R and TVS Raider 125 with its large and imposing looks and ergonomicsWithin the premium 125cc motorcycle segment, TVS used to have an absolute monopoly with Raider 125. Rightfully so as it is a tech-loaded motorcycle with a no-nonsense approach. Hero MotoCorp has entered the chat with its newly launched Xtreme 125R. So, a natural comparison was evident. That’s exactly what we are doing.Hero Xtreme 125R VS Rivals ComparedBut this comparison wouldn’t make sense without the OG premium 125cc motorcycle, which is Pulsar NS125. Before starting, we must acknowledge how well Pulsar NS125 has established relevancy even today with just a few sticker changes since inception. NS160 is like a sexy grandpa. Anil Kapoor, if we may.However, all eyes are currently on the newest kid on the block, Hero Xtreme 125R. It is easily the sportiest motorcycle in this comparo. The new design is edgy and has a muscular and characterful appeal that will appeal to younger riders. This way, Xtreme 125R offers more street presence than the other two.Where powertrains are concerned, all of them have a single-cylinder engine that displace close to 125cc. TVS Raider is the only one to get a 3V head and is oil-cooled with a clever implementation that doesn’t need an active cooling system. Pulsar NS125 has a 4V head too. Power and torque figures are almost the same and all contenders get a 5-speed gearbox.Hero Xtreme 125R Vs Rivals – ComparisonHowever, Bajaj Pulsar NS125 weighs 144 kg, which is 21 kg more than Raider’s 123 kg and 8 kg more than Xtreme’s 136 kg. It is the biggest of the bunch too and has tallest seat height along with biggest fuel tank at 12L. Fuel efficiency is highest with Raider at 67 km/l and Xtreme isn’t far off at 66 km/l. What is far off, is Pulsar NS125 with 56.4 km/l claimed efficiency.Hero did the right choice of going with fatter rubber with Xtreme 125R and this contributes to the bike’s overall macho appeal. For context, both Raider and NS125 get 80/100-17 front and 100/90-17 rear tyres, while Xtreme packs 90/90-17 front and 120/80-17 rear tyres. The concept of rear disc brakes and USD front forks hasn’t entered this price bracket in motorcycles yet.Raider proves to be most feature-loadedHero is the only one to offer single-channel ABS, which is a commendable move by Hero. All three motorcycles in this comparo get a rear mono-shock suspension setup. Hero offers LED lighting all around including turn indicators. Raider offers halogen indicators, while NS125 offers halogen headlights and indicators.Hero Xtreme 125RWhere features are concerned, only Pulsar lacks USB charging port and a fully digital instrument cluster. Speaking of, Hero offers an LCD unit that supports Bluetooth connectivity for call and SMS alerts. But TVS Raider 125 is in a league of its own as it offers a 5-inch TFT screen with Bluetooth features like navigation, call management, notifications, weather and sports updates, voice assist along with 99 connected features.ConclusionWhile a single variant of Pulsar NS125 costs the highest at Rs. 1,04,896 (ex-sh), pricing of Hero Xtreme 125R and TVR Raider 125 are pretty much neck and neck. Because I work in automotive media and get to attend media drives, one of my cousins asked me how Hero Xtreme 125R was, as he was planning to buy one.Hero Xtreme 125R Side ProfileAs Raider 125 is more bang for the buck, along with features to make riding in big cities convenient, I asked him to look at it once before buying. He replied that he wouldn’t consider Raider as it split opinions on headlight design. I think that sums up this comparison. The new design that Hero is bringing, is likely to leave its mark on buyers and seems to be hard to shake off, even with a much fatter brochure. More

Hero Xoom 160 ADV ScooterWhen launched, Hero Xoom 160 ADV scooter will be India’s first indigenous big-capacity scooter and it brings adventurous styling tooBeing world’s largest 2W market, the emphasis on scooters is just as important as motorcycles. Hero MotoCorp being India’s largest and highest-selling 2W manufacturer, is diversifying its scooter portfolio. We’re not talking about any boring commuter scooter. Instead, we’re talking about Hero Xoom 160 ADV scooter which is the company’s upcoming flagship scooter.Hero Xoom 160 ADV Scooter ShowcasedWhere sales numbers are concerned, Hero isn’t the big name in scooter market. The next scooter launch from Hero MotoCorp isn’t gonna ramp up scooter sales numbers in any way as it targets a niche. Instead, Hero Xoom 160 ADV scooter is to show the world that it can manufacture high-quality premium products, just like it has aced budget commuter segment.With Xoom 160, Hero will be launching India’s first indigenous high-capacity sporty scooter with ADV design language. Export potential with Xoom 160 is very huge too. Xoom 160 will be sold via Hero’s Premia dealerships. Xoom 160 surely is Hero’s halo scooter and will stay that way for a very long time. Hero debuted Xoom 160 at 2023 EICMA Show in Milan and it is being showcased in India for the first time alongside new Mavrick 440 and launch of Xtreme 125R.In the video below, we can see Bunny Punia doing a thorough walkaround of Xoom 160. Design screams sporty and follows similar sharp and edgy DNA as Xoom 125. The fascia gets twin headlight setup that wouldn’t look out of place on a fully-faired motorcycle. There’s a small beak to accentuate its ADV lineage.[embedded content]Features and specificationsThere’s a tall windshield and Hero has showcased an even taller windscreen at EICMA. Maybe it will be offered as an accessory. This is a non-step-through scooter and hence there is a spine on the floorboard. This is where Hero has placed Xoom 160’s fuel tank. Placing fuel tank here unlocks more space under the large single-piece seat.Bunny Punia mentions space seems to be enough to accommodate a full-face helmet and then more. Headlights are LEDs along with tail lights, while turn indicators are halogen. Hero Xoom 160 gets 120/70-14 block pattern tyres, wrapped on 14-inch alloy wheels. There is a fully-digital instrument cluster similar to one on Xpulse 200 and is highly likely to feature connectivity features including navigation.Suspension is taken care of by front RSU telescopic forks and twin rear shock absorbers. Both wheels get disc brakes and single-channel ABS is a probability. Keyless entry and i3S stop/start feature are notable attributes as well. The main talking point of Xoom 160 has to be its 14 bhp liquid-cooled 160cc engine which is a first for any indigenous scooter in India.Hero Xoom 160 InstrumentationLaunch could happen in the coming months and it will directly take on a similarly specced Yamaha Aerox 155 sporty scooter. Aerox starts from Rs. 1.47 lakh. If Hero MotoCorp priced Xoom 160 at around Rs. 1.2 lakh, they can pull more buyers towards their flagship scooters. More

Hero Karizma CEAs opposed to mass-manufactured regular Karizma XMR 210, Hero Karizma CE will be sold in limited numbers – 100 units and will get a distinct designWe have seen how Hero MotoCorp is gearing up to revamp its premium motorcycle portfolio. The company is even creating a separate Premia dealership chain catering to premium vehicles and its respective audiences. After launching Xtreme 125R and revealing Mavrick 440, Hero also demonstrated Hero Karizma CE as well. Let’s take a look.What is Hero Karizma CE?We all know what Karizma is, which is Hero’s only fully-faired sports touring motorcycle that debuted company’s all-new 210cc engine. This engine features tech like a DOHC head and liquid cooling along with a 6-speed gearbox and slipper clutch for added convenience. We have ridden the Karizma XMR 210 and you can read our review.Hero Karizma CE. Image – Acko DriveBut what is Hero Karizma CE? To answer that question, we have to take a historical diversion and remember the company’s founder Dr Brijmohan Lall Munjal. July 1st is Dr Munjal’s 101st birth anniversary and to commemorate that, Hero is launching Karizma CE on July 1st and the production number is extremely limited to just 100 units.CE in Hero Karizma CE stands for Commemorative Edition and is being launched to commemorate the late Dr Brijmohan Lall Munjal’s 101st birth anniversary. There is an aluminium plack in the bike’s profile and it denotes the production number proudly – CE001 and so on.Hero Karizma CEHow it differ from standard Karizma?The main idea behind Karizma CE was to pay tribute to OG Karizma which is one of Hero’s most celebrated halo products. The OG Karizma played a major role in introducing Hero MotoCorp to premium motorcycle space. In that regard, we can see Karizma CE get a distinct semi-faired or bikini-faired styling.Hero Karizma CEFascia has LED headlights from Karizma XMR 210. Fuel tank is similar too and so is the frame and most other components. However, Karizma CE gets a unique semi-fairing like OG Karizma and it has a sporty cowl in place of rear seat. The suspension components are all new, with front getting adjustable USD telescopic forks and rear getting Ohlins adjustable mono-shock setup.Carbon fibre body panelsThere is a new handlebar on Karizma CE that is set quite higher than the standard model. This is in an attempt to match OG Karizma’s rider’s triangle. Front fascia has a wider windscreen to go around the new handlebar. The frame and other highlight elements are painted red, to lend a sporty youthful contrast.Hero Karizma CEWhile the base coat is sort of Nardo Grey, but slightly darker. Lastly, there are multiple real woven carbon fibre elements with lacquered finish on fascia, fairing, rear cowl, chain guard and other elements. There is an Akrapovic exhaust too and is likely to make it to production as well. This is surely a collector’s item and is likely to cost a lot of money when compared to standard Karizma XMR 210.Source More

Hero Mavrick 440 LaunchHero Mavrick 440 is positioned on the same platform as the Harley Davidson X440 – Is powered by the same engineIn a groundbreaking move following the collaboration between Hero MotoCorp and Harley Davidson, the Hero Mavrick 440 has made its global debut, marking a significant milestone in the world of motorcycles. Positioned on the same platform as the iconic Harley Davidson X440, the Mavrick 440 brings a unique blend of design, technology, and performance to riders around the world.Strategic Partnership and Evolution from Harley X440The journey began with the launch of Harley-Davidson X440 in July 2023, the result of a strategic partnership between Hero MotoCorp and the legendary American motorcycle manufacturer. Now, Hero MotoCorp is set to unveil its iteration, the Mavrick 440, promising enthusiasts an unparalleled riding experience with distinctive design elements and advanced features.Hero Mavrick 440 LaunchThe Hero Mavrick 440, based on the Harley-Davidson X440 platform, distinguishes itself with new design elements. The motorcycle features rounded headlamps with H-shaped LED DRLs, LED turn indicators, a muscular fuel tank, short front fender, bar-end rounded mirrors, and a single-seat setup.Technological advancements include a digital speedometer with an inverted display, seamless smartphone integration through Bluetooth connectivity, and an intelligent LED headlamp. Dr. Arun Jaura, Chief Technology Officer of Hero MotoCorp, highlighted, “The Mavrick 440 design language emphasizes commanding road presence, unstoppable power, and inherent authority.”Hero Mavrick 440 LaunchPowerful Performance and Cutting-edge TechnologyThe heart of the Mavrick 440 lies in its 440cc powerhouse, delivering best-in-class low-end torque, with over 90% of torque available at 2000 rpm. The motorcycle boasts a perfect blend of comfort and performance, with features like 43mm front forks, a comfortable rider seat, balanced handling and dynamics, and modern technology such as LED lights and interactive telematics.Hero Mavrick 440 LaunchMavrick 440 is Hero MotoCorp’s first-ever 400cc bike for India, equipped with the same engine as the Harley-Davidson X440. The 440cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine offers 27 hp power at 6,000 rpm and 37 Nm torque at 4,000 rpm. The motorcycle features front and rear disc brakes with a dual-channel ABS system, ensuring optimal safety.Pricing and AvailabilityHero MotoCorp plans to announce the pricing of the Mavrick 440 in the coming weeks, with bookings set to begin next month. Deliveries are expected to commence from April 2024. Positioned as a more affordable alternative to the Harley X440, the Mavrick 440 aims to compete with motorcycles like the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Triumph Speed 400. Available in three variants – Base, Mid, and Top, and five enticing colour palettes, the Mavrick 440 is poised to redefine the biking landscape with its commanding road presence, powerful performance, and modern design.Hero Mavrick 440 Tech Specs, FeaturesModel/ Motorcycle: Mavrick 440Design: Authentic look with distinctive bold and assertive designAesthetics: Unmistakable roadster aesthetics and robust stylingPresence: Commanding road presence with youthful appealDetails: Muscular fuel tank, Metal styling body parts, interactive telematics instruments, wide handlebarsSound: Characterful sound from the exhaust systemLighting: Round LED projector headlights, daytime running lights, ‘intelligent automatic headlight’Engine: Air cooled with oil cooler 2V single-cylinder 440cc ‘TorqX’ engineFuel Injection: Electronic fuel injectionPower Output: 27 bhp @ 6000 rpmTorque: 36 Nm @ 4000 rpmTorque Access: Over 90% peak torque accessible from 2000 rpmTransmission: 6-speed transmission with slip-and-assist clutchTyres: 0° steel radial pattern tyres for extreme lean anglesComfort: Roadster ergonomics, upright riding position, spacious seat, ample legroom, optimized grab-railsHandlebars: Wide handlebars for comfortable grip and enhanced controlWheels: 17-inch wheels at the front and rearGround Clearance: 175mmStability: Trellis frame, 43mm dia Telescopic Front Forks, preloaded 7-step twin shocksBrake System: High-performance brake system for efficient deceleration and short braking distancesDigital Speedometer: Negative Display with Smart Phone Features (Phone Battery Status, Miss call Alert, Bluetooth Message Alert), Incoming Call Alert, Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Low Fuel Indicator, RTMi Display, Distance to EmptyTelematics: Cutting-edge eSIM-based connectivity with Connected 2.0 technologyConnectivity Features: Real-time information, remote tracking, access to over 35 functionsRiding Experience: Powerful and intelligently connected More