Hero MotoCorp has been on a roll when it comes to filling various R&D roles of the company. Hero has been getting known talents from companies like Honda, Yamaha and BMW to grow and expand its R&D Team.  A technology development base is also planned in Europe.

Hero has hired Markus Braunsperger, who previously worked with BMW for 25 years, as Head of Technology. He is helping the company set up a technology centre near Jaipur. Another German from BMW, Ulrich Dumm, who spent 30 years at BMW will be heading Chassis development.

From Honda, Hero got their head of styling, Hiroyuki Miyo. From the other Japanese giant Yamaha, Mitsuo Kitada was hired who will see to vehicle integration. From Austrian AVL, Markus Feichtner was hired who has 15 years of experience in engine development.

HMC has been profiting from its sales in the bread and butter 100cc segment, but it now wants to expand in the 200+cc segment. For that it needs to develop it’s own R&D. Up until 2011, Hero could not have an R&D of its own because of its two decade old partnership with Honda. After that came to a close, Hero has invested considerably to ramp up its development capabilities by investing in companies like Eric Buell to hiring known talent. So far Hero has comfortably held off the challenge from Honda in the commuter segment, but with the Japanese company ready to do whatever required for taking over the No.1 position, Manesar based Hero is not willing to take chances.

Pawan Munjal, Chairman of Hero MotoCorp, “Talent has a price, and we are ready to pay that.”
“We were all prepared for going down (post the split). There was every possibility that we would go down in market share, profitability and revenue (after the split)… But we are prepared to fight competition. We are not vulnerable,”

With regards to the 200cc+ market –

“As a company, we need to move here,” “The market is growing here. We will gradually step up.”

Recently Hero MotoCorp showcased the Xtreme 200, HX 250 and XF3R at the Auto Expo 2016.

Source: Economic Times