Hero MotoCorp confirms a 200cc off-road bike will be launched in the next fiscal year.
Hero MotoCorp has identified the premium bike segment and the scooter segment as its top priorities and multiple motorcycles and scooter launches have been planned for this financial year as well as the next.
Talking about premium bikes, we all are aware that the Hero Xtreme 200S will be launched by the end of this fiscal year. However, the current news is that Hero is also planning to launch a high-powered, off-road bike that will displace around 200cc. The motorcycle in question here is still under development and a launch of the same can be expected in the middle of the next financial year.
Hero MotoCorp isn’t new to making off-road bikes, as it already had the Impulse in its portfolio, which has been unfortunately discontinued courtesy lesser demand back then and it being low on power. Now, however, times have changed, the Indian market has matured. Hero is probably seeing good growth opportunities in the affordable off-road bikes segment in the Indian market and hence has decided to roll out one.
Hero currently has a mere 3.52 percent market share in the premium bike segment while its arch rival, Bajaj has a market share of 30 percent (till July 2017). Hero clearly has been missing from the premium motorcycle segment, though it currently has the Xtreme Sports, Achiever 150 i3S and the Karizma ZMR, it is only the Xtreme and Achiever that bring the volumes to Hero.
With the launch of the Xtreme 200S and the upcoming off-road bike, Hero looks to gain a significant market share in the premium motorcycle segment.
Hero 200cc Off-Road Bike
– New Hero 200cc off-road bike to be launched in the middle of next FY
– The off-road bike is still under development
– Hero MotoCorp currently is a minor player in the 150cc and above segment
Source – ETAuto.com