In Late 2020, Harley-Davidson discontinued its business operations in India and signed an agreement with Hero MotoCorp for its sales and service network. Under the new partnership, Hero is responsible for sales and services Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the country. In fact, Harley accessories and apparels are being sold via Hero dealerships. The licensing agreement also states that the home-grown two-wheeler maker will develop and sell premium motorcycles under the Harley-Davidson brand.
According to a fresh report, Hero and Harley-Davidson will co-develop a retro-styled premium motorcycle that’s likely to be positioned against Royal Enfield. As of now, details of the upcoming Hero-Harley retro bike are not available. Earlier reports suggest that the both companies are working on middleweight bikes with engine capacity ranging from 500cc to above. In India, however, the middleweight bikes come with 350cc-400cc engine. Earlier, Niranjan Gupta, Chief Financial Officer at Hero MotoCorp, revealed that the company is planning to foray into the middleweight motorcycle space that’s currently ruled by Royal Enfield.
In other updates, Hero MotoCorp is ready to enter into the electric two-wheeler segment with an e-scooter in early 2022. Official details of the upcoming Hero electric scooter are yet to be revealed. Rumour has it that the new Hero e-scooter will be based on the Gogoro VIVA that’s sold in Taiwan. The Gogoro VIVA is being offered in two variants – keyless and basic – packed with a 3kWh electric motor. The powertrain delivers a range of 85km on a full charge.
The Gogoro VIVA electric scooter comes with a single touch start system that works via the iQ system Smart Keycard. The model has Polypropylene body panels that’s claimed to be “super tough” and resistant to scuffs and scratches. In terms of design and features, the e-scooter offers LED headlamp, single colour LCD negative display with backlight, fixed step bar, dynamic thermal management, USB charging port, synchronized braking system and dual hydraulic disc brakes.
