Hero-Yamaha JV opens plant for e-cycle drive units in Ludhiana

HYM Drive Systems, a joint venture between Hero Motors and Yamaha Motor Co, Japan, has set up a new plant to manufacture electric drive units for cycles at Hero E-Cycle Valley in Ludhiana. Hero E-Cycle Valley is an integrated, high-end plant that manufactures premium push bikes for the global market. 

HYM Drive Systems’s state-of-the-art facility includes a hi-tech motor assembly line, along with an in-house motor winding, and end-of-line testing equipped with ODIN Software System for complete traceability. HYM is to start production in Q1 2023 with a capacity of 300,000 motors per annum in Phase 1; capacity will stand expanded to a million units in Phase 2. The product would be sold globally markets through the Hero and Yamaha OEM network and will also be used in Hero and Yamaha-branded e-cycles.

Pankaj Munjal, chairman of Hero Motors, inaugurated the new facility in the presence of senior executives from Yamaha Motor Co, strategic partners and other stakeholders. The joint venture is the next step in the strategic alliance forged between Hero and Yamaha in September 2019 to work together in the e-cycle product segment.

“This manufacturing facility is a key component of our joint strategy with Yamaha to design, validate and manufacture electric drive units for global e-cycle markets in India,” said Pankaj Munjal. HMC envisions India to be a global manufacturing hub for e-cycles and the drive systems. The EU e-bicycle market has been growing in double digits for more than a decade and expected to grow at a similar rate in near future. The setting up of this facility has brought us one step closer to fulfilling our ambition to be the first fully integrated player in India for the global market. To take it a step further, Hero Motors is planning to set up a Technical Center in 2023 to design the complete electric drive units, which will include motors from HYM and other components like battery, controller, charger, display, sensors and connect applications from automotive suppliers in India and the EU.”

Okubo Shingo, General Manager, Yamaha Japan, commented: “We are delighted today to set up this facility and see our partnership with Hero start so efficiently despite pandemic challenges. This partnership is in line with our ambition of advancing into e-cycle and meeting the needs of e-cycle customers in a better way.”