Hero MotoCorp Inaugurates New R&D Centre In Germany

The new centre is the company’s second after its Jaipur facility

• Hero MotoCorp has set up its first global R&D centre near Munich, Germany.
• The centre will develop new Hero products in conjunction with the Jaipur facility.
• It will also be the main development centre for Hero Motosports, the company’s motorsports division.

(Hero Xpulse 200 Custom Concepts)

Hero MotoCorp has inaugurated its first global R&D centre in Germany. The facility is located in Stephanskirchen near Munich, and is the company’s second full-fledged research and development centre after Jaipur’s CIT (Centre of Innovation and Technology). Interestingly, it will also serve as the new base for Hero Motosports, the company’s motorsports divisions which has participated in and finished the treacherous Dakar Rally. The new centre will function under Dr. Markus Braunsperger, who is Hero MotorCorp’s CTO (Chief Technology Officer) and was previously with BMW Motorrad’s R&D division. His experience of the local and pan-European vehicle development ecosystem should work to the advantage of Hero’s commercial as well as motorsports divisions.

Also read: Top 10 Bestselling Two-wheelers Of December 2018: Honda Activa, Hero Splendor, Suzuki Access 125 And More

(Hero at Dakar 2019)

Moreover, the move will also help Hero attract quality overseas engineering talent required to develop world-class products in the above-200cc two-wheeler category. Currently, Hero derives a majority of its volumes from the small commuter (100cc to 125cc) segment and has a low presence in the premium 200cc and above category. In fact, Royal Enfield operates a similar tech centre in the UK, which is credited with the development of the well-received Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650 neo-retro motorcycles. With the opening of its German tech centre, Hero will be hoping to carve out a niche for itself in the premium two-wheeler segment while also scaling new heights with its motorsports division.

Also read: Hero HF Deluxe IBS i3S Launched

For the full statement from Hero MotoCorp, refer to the official press release below:

HERO MOTOCORP SETS UP TECH

CENTER IN GERMANY

STRENGTHENS ITS GLOBAL R&D ECO-SYSTEM

Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, today announced setting-up of its first Research and Development (R&D) Center at a global location - the Hero Tech Center Germany GmbH.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Hero MotoCorp Limited - the new Center of technology - located at Stephanskirchen near Munich in Germany - will operate in tandem with Hero’s Global R&D hub, the Center of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur, in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan.

Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Hero MotoCorp said, “Setting up of the Hero Tech Center Germany GmbH is a realization of our aspiration to build an R&D eco-system that is spread across global geographies. Ever since Hero began its solo journey in 2011, we have had a clear and focused plan to enhance and strengthen our technological know-how and product development capabilities. We set up the Center of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur in 2016 and since then, this facility has been designing and developing a range of new mobility solutions for customers across the globe.  

“The Hero Tech Center in Germany will be a source of modern technologies with a focus on the global customer base, thereby further strengthening our R&D capabilities. The Tech Center will also enable us to easily tap into the huge pool of resources readily available across Europe and merge them with our ongoing operations at the CIT.”

Hero MotoCorp already has an efficient technology eco-system where it engages with top global design and technology houses from across the world, including Italy, Spain and Thailand.

To begin with, the Hero Tech Center Germany GmbH – which will be under the direct supervision of Dr. Markus Braunsperger, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Hero MotoCorp - will focus on development of new vehicle concepts and future technologies in close cooperation with the teams at CIT in Jaipur. It will also be the epicenter for Hero’s motorsport team - the Hero MotoSports Team Rally that has put India on the global map of motorsports in a short span of time - and will facilitate all rally participation activities, including new product development for the Team.