Hero MotoCorp on Wednesday launched flex-fuel versions of its bestselling Splendor and HF Deluxe motorcycles and said it is preparing to expand the technology across its entire model lineup as India's ethanol ecosystem continues to develop.
The motorcycles were unveiled in the presence of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, both of whom have been among the strongest proponents of ethanol and alternative fuels in India.
Speaking at the launch, Hero MotoCorp Chief Executive Officer Harshavardhan Chitale said the company was ready to introduce flex-fuel technology across all its motorcycle models over the next one to two years, subject to the pace of ethanol infrastructure development and fuel availability.
"As ethanol linkage keeps growing and as more availability happens, we are ready to bring all our models with flex-fuel technology in a matter of one or two years, depending on how the linkage grows," Chitale said.
The launch marks Hero MotoCorp's most significant step yet in the alternative-fuels space and aligns with the government's broader objective of reducing India's dependence on imported crude oil through increased use of domestically produced ethanol.
Chitale said the initiative was about more than launching new products and should be viewed as a contribution towards India's energy security ambitions.
"Today, India imports nearly 85% of its crude oil, making us vulnerable to global price volatility and supply disruptions. It is important that we become 'Atmanirbhar' in energy, and that's what we're contributing to," he said.
Hero chose its highest-volume commuter platforms, the Splendor and HF Deluxe, to introduce the technology, arguing that meaningful impact can only be achieved through products with the widest customer reach.
"If you want to make impact at scale, choose what sells the most," Chitale said, noting that the Splendor and HF family account for a significant share of India's motorcycle market.
The CEO also highlighted the domestic engineering behind the project, stating that the motorcycles were fully designed, developed and manufactured in India through Hero's Centre for Innovation and Technology in Jaipur, with minimal import dependence.
According to Chitale, wider adoption of ethanol-blended fuels could deliver benefits beyond lower emissions by reducing fuel imports, improving energy resilience and generating additional demand for agricultural feedstock, thereby supporting rural incomes and farmers.
"Our goal is simple. Make cleaner mobility practical, affordable and accessible to every Indian customer, and then make impact at scale," he said.
The company said the flex-fuel motorcycles are capable of operating on higher ethanol blends and form part of Hero MotoCorp's broader strategy to support India's transition towards cleaner and more diversified mobility solutions.
With the launch of the flex-fuel Splendor and HF Deluxe, Hero is betting that ethanol-powered mobility can move beyond pilot projects and become a mainstream technology in India's mass-market two-wheeler segment.