[Nithesh_M]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Nitpicking here but that was a Honda engine.

The Impulse is a slightly detuned Honda NXR 150 Bros sold in Brazil and other markets where On and off road bikes have a large market unlike ours.

[kumarshah]

Originally Posted by payeng

Depends which way (areas) the industry would grow over the next years...

If its in Urban areas then it would most likely be biased towards scooters. If growth is more rapid in Rural areas.. then motorcycles would most likely continue to dominate.

Hero (or for that matter anyone) being able to match Honda's (more specifically) the Activa appears almost impossible. Once you are a leader for around 10 years, its a very tall task for anyone else to take that position.

The overall industry growth is highest in the Scooter segment. The only reason you don't see a big growth in rural areas in scooter right now is that Honda doesn't have that rural network in place.

What Honda has in Activa, Hero has in Splendor. Hence, the question is who can eat into that market share first. It isn't about dethroning them, but Honda holds approx. 62% market share in Scooter segment, question is can Hero bring that down to 40%? Similarly, Hero holds 68% market share in entry commuter segment, can Honda bring that down?

[payeng]

Originally Posted by kumarshah

The only reason you don't see a big growth in rural areas in scooter right now is that Honda doesn't have that rural network in place

Automatic Scooters are growing faster in Cities..


1. Because they are easy/stress free to ride in our congested cities (on automatic scooters you just Twist and Go)

2. Automatic scooters can be shared by everyone in the family including Wife/Sister/Daughter (no gears to change/can be ridden with sarees/skirts)

3. Rural Folk do not have to ride hours in painfully slow bumper to bumper traffic.

4. Motorcycles with their bigger wheels are more suited for the rough rural roads and also return better fuel efficiency.



.. NOT JUST because Honda has a better dealer network in cities.

[kumarshah]

Originally Posted by payeng

Automatic Scooters are growing faster in Cities..


1. Because they are easy/stress free to ride in our congested cities (on automatic scooters you just Twist and Go)

2. Automatic scooters can be shared by everyone in the family including Wife/Sister/Daughter (no gears to change/can be ridden with sarees/skirts)

3. Rural Folk do not have to ride hours in painfully slow bumper to bumper traffic.

4. Motorcycles with their bigger wheels are more suited for the rough rural roads and also return better fuel efficiency.



.. NOT JUST because Honda has a better dealer network in cities.

I didn't point to anything about why scooters are seeing bumper growth in cities.

A lot of the points that make scooters attractive to city folks also applies to rural folks. Rural segment has also seen Scooter growth, for both Activa and Maestro it is not just as much as the Cities.

[Gansan]

Could the engines be developed by Buell racing of USA, in which Hero Motors has a stake?

As for fit and finish, Hero bikes still lead most of the others in this area.

[Aditya]

A test mule of a motorcycle, believed to be from the Hero MotoCorp stables, has been spotted. The bike is probably a new low-cost product with which, the company will appeal to the rural and entry-level motorcycle segments.

Link to Team-BHP News Article

[Aditya]

Hero MotoCorp has started testing another commuter motorcycle, which is believed to be an updated version of the Passion Pro.

Link to Team-BHP News Article

[MunnabhaiMBBS]

Hero MotoCorp launched a new version of Passion Pro, priced at Rs 47,850 (ex-showroom Delhi).

Features:
- Digital Analog Combo Meter Console
- Stylish Side Cowl
- Newly Designed 6 Spoke Cast Wheel
- Flush Type Fuel cap
- 240 mm front disc brakes
- Power start

Available Colors: Black Sports Red, Black Heavy Grey, Black Frost Blue, Sports Red, Force Silver, Bronze yellow, Matte Brown and Majestic White.

* Image Source : Official website