The automaker plans to launch a new product in the current quarter on the co-developed 440cc platform.
07 Aug 2025 | 26860 Views | By Kiran Murali & Darshan Nakhwa
Hero MotoCorp, which has a partnership with US-based premium motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Motor to co-develop and manufacture motorcycles in India, plans to expand the Harley lineup with a new model on the 440 platform in the current July-September quarter.
“We are expanding the Harley lineup with new additions in ...
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Hero MotoCorp, which has a partnership with US-based premium motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Motor to co-develop and manufacture motorcycles in India, plans to expand the Harley lineup with a new model on the 440 platform in the current July-September quarter.
“We are expanding the Harley lineup with new additions in this space, which will continue to excite the customers. There is a new product from the HD 440 portfolio, which you will see in the second quarter, and going forward, there will be exciting products that will come from the HD portfolio,” Hero MotoCorp’s management told investors on Thursday.
In a strategic partnership that began in 2020, Hero MotoCorp and Harley-Davidson have joined forces to co-develop and distribute premium motorcycles across India and select global markets. The collaboration's first product, the Harley-Davidson X440, debuted in 2023. This model is being produced at Hero MotoCorp's Garden Factory in Neemrana, Rajasthan.
The collaboration with Harley-Davidson is seen as an attempt by Hero MotoCorp to change its brand image in the premium space. In January 2024, Hero MotoCorp introduced its roadster model – Mavrick 440. It is based on Harley-Davidson’s X440 platform and the first co-developed model to be sold under Hero’s brand.
However, the two products - the Harley X440 and the Mavrick - have seen limited traction in the market. Sales of both models were underwhelming in FY25, with just 13,963 units. Its performance was hindered by positioning in the 350+-500cc segment dominated by Bajaj Auto with the Dominar, and KTM, and Royal Enfield’s Guerrilla. In the April-June quarter, the total sales of both models plunged 63% on year to just 1,854 units.
While Hero MotoCorp built its legacy on the strength of its entry-level (100-110cc) motorcycles, the company is now adapting to a changing market. Recognizing that the premium motorcycle segment is growing at a much faster pace, Hero has pivoted its strategy to prioritize the 125cc and premium categories, including its technology-rich XTECH variants.
Last year, Hero MotoCorp announced that it has extended the partnership with Harley-Davidson Motor to co-develop and manufacture a new motorcycle as well as expand the existing co-developed model, X440 - into new variants.
Other major two-wheeler makers - Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor - also have partnerships with Triumph and BMW Motorrad, respectively, to co-develop and manufacture premium two-wheelers here. Bajaj Auto has also co-developed a 400cc platform with Triumph, and has rolled out three products on this – Speed 400, the Scrambler 400 X and Thruxton 400.
Meanwhile, Hero MotoCorp, which expanded its entry-level portfolio in July with the launch of HF Deluxe Pro, is also gearing up to launch two products in the 125cc motorcycle category ahead of the peak festival season as it looks to fend off the competition from its rival Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India.