A Hero’s welcome
Indian brand Hero MotoCorp prepare to enter Europe with everyday electric scoot
Indian low-capacity motorcycle specialists, Hero MotoCorp, have confirmed an expansion into Europe for 2024 with bikes set to go on sale in the UK.
“We’ve got the manufacturing base already. We’ve got the volume. We’ve tied up with distributors here and there’s a customer need,” Hero CEO Niranjan Gupta told MCN.
The Delhi-based operation have been building bikes since 1985, delivering in excess of 110 million machines to customers in more than 40 countries. They’ve also worked with Harley-Davidson to develop the 440cc single-cylinder X440 cruiser, to help the American giant break into emerging markets.
The first of their machines to enter the UK will be the electric Vida V1 Pro, which promises a 68-mile real-world range, and a 0-80% recharge time of around 65 minutes from its two 1.97kWh removable batteries.
Other features include a colour TFT dash with mobile connectivity, plus space under the seat to swallow 26 litres of luggage.
Although Hero are already selling into a number of territories outside India, Gupta believes the more affluent nature of the European market will allow the company to explore more innovative and expensive motorcycle features.
“It allows us to experiment with products with more features, simply because the developed markets like Europe, and the UK, will have customers with a better ability to pay,” he continued.
“So, they will also become markets where we can try out some of this kind of stuff where we know that in our existing Asian markets there will be very few takers if it becomes too expensive.”
Although UK prices will not likely be announced until the middle of 2024, bikes are set to be distributed across the UK by MotoGB. The Chorley company already collaborate with the likes of Sym, Benelli, Keeway, Voge, Lambretta, Italjet, and others.
“This is why we are tying up with those distributors who already have a wide reach,” Gupta added. “If you were to ask me: ‘Will Hero come in and open new dealerships?’ then it would be a tough thing because you can open them, but then the customer requires availability [of parts and back-up].”
He added: “Which is why we’ve been very cautious that the distributors that we are selecting are the ones who’ve got multiple dealerships and have the ability to service customers across the country. That’s an essential part of any auto business.”
With the first machines arriving being electric, Hero believe that increasing restrictions on urban transport, such as London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone, will enable them to make a decent and lasting impact in the UK market.
The company are expecting the first batch of bikes around April/ May 2024. They will be retailed through MotoGB’s dealer network with Hero selecting around 50 showrooms around the UK.
Visit heromotocorp.com for more information and availability.
‘It will allow us to experiment with new features’ NIRANJAN GUPTA