Hero bets on i3S tech to stem falling bike sales

India’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp, is betting on innovative technologies to put a check on declining motorcycle sales across the urban and rural markets. As per the recent fuel efficiency tests conducted by the company and certified by the iCAT (International Centre for Automotive Technology), Hero’s Splendor iSmart model has delivered a mileage of 102.50 kilometres per litre of petrol under ideal test conditions.

The company release states that “As per the latest (March 2015) fuel efficiency (FE) values, the Splendor iSmart has delivered a mileage of 102.50 kilometres per litre, making it the world’s most fuel-efficient bike. These FE values are certified by the iCAT and obtained in the mandatory emission test specified in Rule 115 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) 1989, under controlled conditions using a reference fuel at an agency authorized by Rule 126 of the said Rules. iCAT is a division of NATRIP Implementation Society (NATIS) of the government of India.”

Interestingly, the company, which had launched the Splendor iSmart model a year back in March 2014, had not revealed the fuel efficiency stats of this model back then. However, according to the test runs conducted by Autocar India, the Splendor iSmart had delivered “56kpl in the city with i3S turned off, improving slightly to 57.2kpl with i3S. Its 97.2cc engine feels refined and well suited to city riding, with linear power delivery, and fuel efficiency is marginally up thanks to i3S technology.”

According to the company release, it has cumulatively sold more than 300,000 units of the Splendor iSmart model over the last 12-13 months.

This lightweight Splendor variant, which has a kerb weight of 110kg, is powered by an air-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder, 97.2cc carburetto-fed engine, which is brought to life via an electric switch or a kick start lever.

Developed in-house by Hero MotoCorp’s Indian R&D team, the i3S technology (idle stop and start system), a feature more commonly seen on the passenger cars, automatically shuts the engine within five seconds of idling (mostly at traffic signals) and turns it on as soon as the clutch is engaged.

Continuing to offer the Splendor iSmart in the existing four colour options – red, green, blue and grey, the company has, however, now hiked the ex-showroom Delhi prices to Rs 50,000 (self-starter and spoke wheels) and Rs 51,100 (self-starter and alloy wheels). It can be recalled that last year, the Splendor iSmart was launched for Rs 47,250 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Notably, the Splendor series, which has five variants (Splendor+, Splendor Pro, Splendor Pro Classic and Splendor iSmart in 100cc class, and Super Splendor in 125cc category), is touted to be the largest selling motorcycle brand in the world with over two million unit sales every year.

Hero MotoCorp, which filed over 15 patents during FY2013-14, has been working upon new model technology absorption including disruptive innovations. Company officials believe that technological features such as i3S system have the ability to boost bike sales, and are banking on the same to counter the dropping sales, which is partly due to the structural shift towards the scooter segment.

In one of the recent company documents, A Srinivasu, Hero MotoCorp's all-India sales head is quoted as, “Yes there is a possibility that the shift (from commuter bikes to scooters) could accelerate a little bit with a lot of high-end scooters coming into the market. But I think the opportunities higher on this side (bike segment) where let us say tomorrow one start putting a consistent 100 kilometres plus to a litre you might have customers shifting back because it might make a lot of sense buying a motorcycle in terms of ownership cost.”

It is to be noted that even Bajaj Auto, which currently rolls out only motorcycles, is focussing on innovative and new features to drive buyer attention and boost its falling sales. The Recently launched Bajaj Platina ES, which the company claims to deliver a fuel efficiency of 96.90kpl under ideal test conditions, is another such example.