Report - Hero MotoCorp soft launches in USA and Canada, sales begin in 2014

Apart from launching an array of new and updated products in India next year, Hero Motocorp, the world's largest two-wheeler maker (in terms of volume) will continue its overseas expansion adding North America and Canada to its list of international markets. Hero's American distributor will be Erik Buell Racing (EBR).

Hero's long term plans could involve setting up a local assembly/manufacturing plant. The company has already conducted a soft launch at the inaugural American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) in Orlando, Florida, displaying products such as the Hunk, ZMR, Deluxe Eco, Splendor Pro and the Pleasure.

Pawan Munjal, MD and CEO of Hero MotoCorp, confirmed the soft launch to Economic Times, while an EBR press release states that sales in USA and Canada would begin in the summer of 2014. Mr. Munjal believes that America has a market for small 100-250cc two-wheelers.

In May this year, Hero entered Central American markets such as Guatemala City, El Salvador and Honduras, while July saw the company setting up a CKD (Completely Knocked Down) assembly plant in Kenya. In August, Hero announced that it would start retailing its products in the country of Peru.

By 2020, Hero would have entered as many as 50 countries and the company has its objective lined out clearly: It wants to surpass 100 million units in cumulative sales by 2020.

[Images from Motorcycle-USA]