Hero in R&D tie-up with Erik Buell Racing

Hero MotoCorp Ltd (HMCL) is now setting its sights on the superbike segment and future growth will be in this direction. The company has forged a strategic alliance with the US-based Erik Buell Racing (EBR) for accessing technology and design inputs. The partnership will facilitate introduction of next-generation high-end bikes to India and will enable Hero MotoCorp to foray into the racing arena by sponsoring two teams Team Hero and AMSOIL Hero, a first by an Indian two-wheeler company.

The first race is slated in Florida between March 15-17 and Team Hero will debut at the AMA Pro Racing Superbike Championship on EBR 1190RS bikes. EBR 1190RS is the flagship brand from EBR and the company has produced only 100 units of these, including a few of the carbon fibre edition package. Buell, which supplied high-powered engines to its parent companyHarley-Davidson, had split from it in 2009 after encountering financial problems. Subsequently, it launched its first motorcycle, the liquid-cooled V-twin-engined 175bhp EBR 1190RS after assuming a new identity — Erik Buell Racing. Pawan Munjal, managing director and CEO of Hero Motocorp, said that under the partnership, designs and technologies sourced from EBR will be integrated in some of Hero’s current models that will be rolled out in 2013. But completely new product platforms developed by the two partners will be launched only in 2014.

“The Indian two-wheeler industry is set to evolve and it is only natural that as the market leader we are driving this change. Erik is going to play an integral role in giving shape to some of my dream two-wheelers for the discerning youth of today. So my R&D team and Erik’s team together have made some definitive progress in this direction and we will hopefully be putting a few scorchers on the roads soon,” said Munjal.

The partners are targeting the global customer with their innovative products and Munjal said that they could look at setting up assembly lines overseas to be in close proximity to targeted markets of Africa and Latin America. Hero is also developing the concept hybrid scooter Leap in collaboration with EBR. This scooter was recently showcased at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi.

Erik F Buell, chairman and CTO of EBR, remarked that both HMCL and EBR share a common commitment to manufacture world-class two-wheelers, leveraging the technology of the future. “We look forward to designing technology solutions which are in line with contemporary global standards and also futuristic in their appeal and utility,” he added.

SHOBHA MATHUR