Hero MotoCorp to set up two plants

LONDON: Fresh from its split from its erstwhile Japanese partner Honda, the Indian two-wheeler major Hero — now known as Hero MotorCorp went in for a high-pitched blitzkreig on Tuesday to kickstart its solo journey. It lined up bollywood stars and western performers like Akon at London’s O2 arena to unveil its new branding and future planning.
"One world, One Hero" became the new campaign for the company which moved past its earlier slogan of ‘desh ki dhadhkan’. "Let us unveil the new Hero... and lead the transition of the company into a global brand over the next few years," MD Pawan Munjal said while addressing the company’s 1200-odd dealers as well as component suppliers.
Trying to dispel the apprehensions that the brand would suffer after the split from Honda, Munjal said Hero was now on an expansion mode and planned to invest over Rs 4500 crore. On the card are two new bike plants — one in south India and the other in west — apart from a parts factory in Rajasthan. Also, the company will focus on alliances for technology, something it desperately needs after the split from Honda. Munjal said the company will tie-up with European firms to design and develop futuristic platforms. Also, it has already tied up with a Japanese firm to build new products.
Apart from the entire Hero group clan led by patriarch BM Munjal, a host of celebrities — tennis legend Boris Becker, former British F1 driver David Coulthard and bollywood actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor— attended the brand function.
(The correspondent is in London at the invitation of Hero MotoCorp)