Hero MotoCorp, the largest two-wheeler maker of the country, has officially announced that the company will soon introduce its first model in the Indian auto market before the end of fiscal 2014, which will be incorporated with its own technology. Along with this, the launch of motorcycles in Latin America and Africa in the last quarter of ongoing fiscal is also on the cards of Hero MotoCorp. The company is planning to customise its current portfolio, which will suit the demands of the abovementioned markets.
The Senior Vice President (Marketing and Sales) of Hero MotoCorp, Anil Dua said in a press conference, “We have technology partners like EBR, AVL and Engines Engineering. A lot of collaborations is already taking place and we will be launching the first product with our own IPR through these collaborations by 2013-2014.”
However, the company official refused to comment on the details of upcoming model. He rather said, “With EBR, we are focusing on the premium bikes, while with AVL and Engines Engineering, we are focusing in the other segments. We also have our own R&D, focusing on new product development.”
Recently, the auto maker recruited Engines Engineering, an Italian two-wheeler design firm, which will help the brand to introduce the next generation model line-up. In order to carve a niche in the high-end bike segment, the Indian player has sourced technology from the US based Erik Buell Racing (EBR). Interestingly, the company has also ventured with Austrian engine developer AVL.
Speaking on the export terms, he said, “We are going to look at the customers in African and Latin American markets and are going to tailor-made for them.”
The auto maker is planning to foray in the taxi segment of Africa and thus, he said, “We have to do customisation of products in our existing portfolio to suit that market.”
Highlighting the festive season of this year, Dua said, “The market is down, but usually during the festive season sales pick up. It is unlikely that we will have a stupendous double-digit growth during the festive season, but I do believe it will be a single-digit growth.”
He then said that between July and September, the overall sales in auto industry reduced by five per cent and the automaker had adjusted its production capacity with two lac units. However in near future, the company is expecting a boost in its sales and anticipates running its plants in full potential in the third quarter of fiscal 2013.
