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Edit October 19, 2012:
Hero MotoCorp to not discontinue anything.
Hero MotoCorp has confirmed that it isn’t discontinuing anything. In fact, it is working on producing more and pushing harder the Impulse, Maestro and Ignitor which media reports said were facing the axe. The company is looking at expanding production for the scooter and the Ignitor, contrary to the reports. All of Hero’s products will be updated to ensure that they meet the new emissions norms that kick in in 2015. Development work for this is expected to be handled internally.
Hero has been expanding the capability and infrastructure at their R&D division and had announced tie-ups with AVL in Austria and Erik Buell Racing of the USA. Both companies are to help Hero develop products as well as R&D skills. Now Hero has announced a partnership with Italian two-wheeler design firm Engines Engineering who were previously owned by Mahindra 2 Wheelers. Engines Engineering will help Hero with the design of its future products. The Italian design firm was also responsible for the Mahindra Stallio, which was a failure in the entry-level commuter segment.
Source: Hero MotoCorp to not discontinue anything
Earlier:
Hero to phase out recent products with Honda tech - The Times of India
NEW DELHI: They may be newly-launched products, but Hero MotoCorp has said it will phase out Impulse and Ignitor motorcycles and Maestro scooter after some time as they have been launched with technology assistance from erstwhile partner Honda Motor Co of Japan.
Pawan Munjal, MD of Hero MotoCorp, said the company wants an independent robust R&D set-up, for which it has stitched up a new technology agreement with a European design and technology provider - its third such partner since its split from Honda last year. He said going forward, Hero MotoCorp wants to develop products with its new partners so that it can replace those developed with Honda.
Hero, that is setting up an integrated R&D centre near Jaipur with an investment of 400 crore, has been getting aggressive in firming up alliances to guarantee new technology flow after the departure of Honda. Munjal did not disclose the name of the new European partner. In February, the company announced a partnership with US superbike company Erik Buell Racing (EBR), and in March signed a research deal with Austrian engine manufacturer AVL.
Munjal said Hero MotoCorp intends to purchase equity in the technology companies in future. "We are just getting to know each other and seeing what we can get from these companies. As we move along, we may purchase a stake in them, beginning with a minority stake. Ultimately, the idea is to have them as an extended arm of our R&D set-up at Jaipur."
While the company launched the 150cc 'on-road-off-road' bike Impulse in October last year, the 125cc Ignitor and the Meastro scoooter were launched this year. "We are already working with our alliance partners for a new on/off bike. This could be similar to or much better than Impulse."
After discontinuing these products, Hero MotoCorp will save on royalty payouts to Honda. Munjal, however, said that blockbuster models like Splendor and Passion, also developed using Honda's technology, will not be phased out as they have been in the market for long. "All models before Impulse will stay. Royalty payouts for them will end in 2014."
"The new partner that we have tied up with will help us in aligning to new emission norms that come in from 2015. With AVL, we will work on engines while EBR will be used for developing certain kinds of bikes and other products like hybrid scooter."
Hero MotoCorp to not discontinue anything.
Hero MotoCorp has confirmed that it isn’t discontinuing anything. In fact, it is working on producing more and pushing harder the Impulse, Maestro and Ignitor which media reports said were facing the axe. The company is looking at expanding production for the scooter and the Ignitor, contrary to the reports. All of Hero’s products will be updated to ensure that they meet the new emissions norms that kick in in 2015. Development work for this is expected to be handled internally.
Hero has been expanding the capability and infrastructure at their R&D division and had announced tie-ups with AVL in Austria and Erik Buell Racing of the USA. Both companies are to help Hero develop products as well as R&D skills. Now Hero has announced a partnership with Italian two-wheeler design firm Engines Engineering who were previously owned by Mahindra 2 Wheelers. Engines Engineering will help Hero with the design of its future products. The Italian design firm was also responsible for the Mahindra Stallio, which was a failure in the entry-level commuter segment.
Source: Hero MotoCorp to not discontinue anything
Earlier:
Hero to phase out recent products with Honda tech - The Times of India
NEW DELHI: They may be newly-launched products, but Hero MotoCorp has said it will phase out Impulse and Ignitor motorcycles and Maestro scooter after some time as they have been launched with technology assistance from erstwhile partner Honda Motor Co of Japan.
Pawan Munjal, MD of Hero MotoCorp, said the company wants an independent robust R&D set-up, for which it has stitched up a new technology agreement with a European design and technology provider - its third such partner since its split from Honda last year. He said going forward, Hero MotoCorp wants to develop products with its new partners so that it can replace those developed with Honda.
Hero, that is setting up an integrated R&D centre near Jaipur with an investment of 400 crore, has been getting aggressive in firming up alliances to guarantee new technology flow after the departure of Honda. Munjal did not disclose the name of the new European partner. In February, the company announced a partnership with US superbike company Erik Buell Racing (EBR), and in March signed a research deal with Austrian engine manufacturer AVL.
Munjal said Hero MotoCorp intends to purchase equity in the technology companies in future. "We are just getting to know each other and seeing what we can get from these companies. As we move along, we may purchase a stake in them, beginning with a minority stake. Ultimately, the idea is to have them as an extended arm of our R&D set-up at Jaipur."
While the company launched the 150cc 'on-road-off-road' bike Impulse in October last year, the 125cc Ignitor and the Meastro scoooter were launched this year. "We are already working with our alliance partners for a new on/off bike. This could be similar to or much better than Impulse."
After discontinuing these products, Hero MotoCorp will save on royalty payouts to Honda. Munjal, however, said that blockbuster models like Splendor and Passion, also developed using Honda's technology, will not be phased out as they have been in the market for long. "All models before Impulse will stay. Royalty payouts for them will end in 2014."
"The new partner that we have tied up with will help us in aligning to new emission norms that come in from 2015. With AVL, we will work on engines while EBR will be used for developing certain kinds of bikes and other products like hybrid scooter."
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