Hero MotoCorp ties up with Engines Engineering for technology sourcing

Ever since the world’s largest two wheeler maker by volumes, Hero MotoCorp, exited its nearly three decade old joint venture with Japanese automaker Honda, it has been alliances galore for Hero. With Honda, which was Hero’s erstwhile technology partner no longer supplying it with new technology, Hero MotoCorp has entered into technology tie ups with a range of companies abroad along with increasing focus on its in-house Research & Development division. While Erik Buell Racing and AVL Austria are two such technology suppliers Hero has tied up with, we now have a third name to add to that list.

Hero Impulse 150 Dual Purpose Motorcycle used as an illustration

Engines Engineering, an Italian engineering design firm will now partner Hero MotoCorp and work on the technology that is expected to power Hero’s next generation range of products. Engines Engineering has been a known name in Indian motorcycling circles and this firm was even acquired by Mahindra &Mahindra a few years ago. Since then, Mahindra has sold it back to its promoter as other clients of Engines Engineering cited conflict-of-interest concerns with Mahindra owning the engineering design firm which offers boutique design services to a wide range of leading global automakers.

Engines Engineering has worked on the Stallio 110 commuter motorcycle for Mahindra TwoWheelers. Also, the Italian firm was instrumental in the design and development of Royal Enfield’s new range of unit construction engines(UCE). The UCE engine has single handedly transformed Royal Enfield from a struggling motorcycle maker to a thriving purveyor of retro motorcycles that have performance and fuel economy to match their classic looks. So, Engines Engineering has quite a few accolades to it credit including the engine design of Mahindra’s 125cc race bikes which have been performing well at motorcycle race circuits across the world.

So, Hero MotoCorp will be hoping to leverage Engines Engineering’s expertise in developing engines to engineer a new range of motorcycles and scooters to cement its position as the world’s largest two wheeler maker by volumes. Increasingly, Hero MotoCorp’s leadership is looking on slippery ground with market share receding. Former JV partner Honda, which now operates independently in India, has made no qualms about its ambitions to dominate the Indian two wheeler market by 2020. Honda has already made some inroads into the 110cc commuter motorcycle market with the Dream Yuga 110. The commuter motorcycle segment is Hero’s stronghold, a citadel that Hero needs to protect with all its might if it hopes to remain number 1 in in India. The Engines Engineering alliance is yet another step in this direction.