First bike without Honda technology by 2014: Hero MotoCorp

Hero MotoCorp has been riding on sales success even after separating with Honda, who was its technical partner in India.

Hero MotoCorp has announced that its first bike without the technology of erstwhile partner Honda will hit the market by 2014. The company continues to use Honda technology for its products after the break up of their joint venture, Hero Honda. It has has a licence agreement with the Japanese firm till 2014.

“We are working with different technology partners. Our first bike without Honda technology will be launched in 2014,” Hero MotoCorp Managing Director and CEO Pawan Munjal said. The bike could be developed in India or anywhere but it would be on a completely new platform.

In February this year, Hero had entered into technology sourcing pact with US-based Erik Buell Racing (EBR) to strengthen presence in the high-end bike segment. The company has already started work on some of its existing products and also on completely new product using technology from EBR and a new product could be launched by calendar year 2013.

The company had also entered into an alliance with Austria-based engine developer AVL to enhance capability in different engine segments.  ”We have already started work with AVL and we are happy with the progress,” Munjal said. He, however, added that it was difficult to put a timeline as to when a new bike with AVL engine technology could hit the market.