Hero MotoCorp launches Duet, eyes major market share in scooter segment

Hero MotorCorp  launched the 110cc Duet scooter today in Bangalore in a bid to increase its market share in the Indian scooter segment. The Duet is priced at Rs 48,500 for the LX version and Rs 49,000 for the VX version (ex-showroom Bangalore).

The company has launched the 110cc Duet within two weeks of launching the 110cc model Maestro Edge.

While the company is pitching the Duet for both male and female customers, the Maestro Edge has been positioned as premium brand from Hero MotoCorp.

Commenting on the national launch of the Duet in Bangalore today, Ashok Bhasin, head of sales, marketing and customer care, Hero MotoCorp, said, "The company is a leader in the Indian motorcycle segment with around 52 percent market share while we have a 13 percent share in the scooter segment."

Hero MotoCorp already has two scooters in its range, the Pleasure and Maestro. While the Pleasure focuses on women customers, the Maestro has been pitched as a stylish vehicle for men.

With these four scooters to offer, the automaker plans to increase its market share in the Indian scooter segment. However, Bhasin declined to provide the targeted market share of the company in the scooter category.

“Being the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, we are well attuned to the needs and preferences of our customers. Our new products, the Maestro Edge and Duet have thus been developed keeping in mind the rising aspirations of our customers. Both the scooters are loaded with style, safety and convenience features while embodying the core values of brand Hero,” added Bhasin.

The company claimed its Duet delivers impressive performance with a 110cc air-cooled, 4-stroke single-cyclinder OHC engine, developing maximum power of 8.31bhp at 8000rpm and maximum torque of 8.3 Nm at 6500rpm. The Duet is claimed to have a mileage of 63.8 km/litre.

Its features include under-seat mobile charging port, remote seat opening, remote fuel-lid opening, pass switch, service due indicator, twin parking lamps and tubeless tyres.

Hero MotoCorp’s current annual scooter production capacity stands at 1.3 million units, and with the introduction of the new scooter models in the portfolio, the company will be aggressively targeting to gain market share in the category, Bhasin added.

With the commencement of operations at the Hero Centre of Global Innovation and R&D at Jaipur Rajasthan by Q3 FY’16, the company is looking at fast-tracking the development of its innovation-led portfolio. The centre will house globally-renowned experts who will be engaged in the development Hero’s future product line-up.

Bhasin summed up by saying, “The Southern region is a key market for us and we are confident that the scooters will instantly appeal to the customer. The Maestro Edge has received a tremendous response since its launch and the company expect the Duet to continue this trend.”

Also read: TOP 10 Scooters in September 2015