The two-wheeler market in India is booming. Despite the difficulties linked to the health crisis, sales of two-wheeler giants continue to grow. After Bajaj, it is the turn of Hero MotoCorp to present its figures, with growth of 20% in the last quarter of 2020 compared to 2019 and reaching 100 million registered vehicles
Pandemic or not, for the two-wheeler market, 2020 was a golden year, at least in India: it is the 20th consecutive year that Hero MotoCorp has retained the title of the world's leading two-wheeler manufacturer. Impressive growth for the Indian company, since the million mark was crossed in 1994, 5 million in 2001, 10 million in 2004, 25 million in 2008, and since then, the growth has been exponential: in 2013 the The milestone of 50 million was crossed, in 2017 that of 75 million and, in 2020, 100 million…
Nothing surprising: born in 1983 under the name of Hero Honda Motors Ltd thanks to the partnership signed with Honda, Hero MotoCorp Ltd ended this Joint Venture in 2011 by transferring 26% of its shareholding to Honda itself, brand with which it still maintains certain licensing agreements. A winning asset which, combined with the expansion of the Asian market, has allowed it to grow enormously. In 2020, it notably signed an agreement with Harley-Davidson for the sale of American motorcycles, including the development of an HD brand range for the Indian market only.
The 100 millionth vehicle produced by Hero MotoCorp is the Xtreme 160R, which is also the latest vehicle produced by the brand for the Indian market. Launched in June 2020, it is one of the most powerful motorcycles in its category. It is powered by a 163cc air-cooled engine that develops 15 hp at 8500 rpm and 14 nm of torque at 6500 rpm. The motor uses the company's xSens technology with 14 different sensors and is mated to a five-speed gearbox.
Pawan Munjal, CEO, Hero MotoCorp, said: “Hero MotoCorp has been at the forefront of mobility for millions of people around the world and achieving this milestone is the success of the evolution of engineering, operational excellence and sustainable practices. It is also the success of the holistic ecosystem based on trust and conviction that has developed with this company. Most importantly, it's a celebration of the customers who continue to spread their love and faith in Hero. »
His company growth plans for the future are ambitious: “We will continue to follow our growth path. In line with our vision of “being the future of mobility”, we will launch many new motorcycles and scooters over the next five years, besides expanding our global footprint. We will also continue to invest in R&D and focus on new mobility solutions. »
Hero MotoCorp currently has eight factories, including six in India, one in Colombia and one in Bangladesh, as well as two R&D centers in India and Germany.
