Report - Hero Motocorp to increase output of Splendor to reclaim top spot

26/05/2014 - 12:40 Hero Splendor, Hero Motocorp Karthik H

Hero Motocorp will increase the output of the Hero Splendor and its variants starting in June, in a bid to reclaim the number 1 selling two-wheeler position from Honda Activa.

New Hero Super Splendor headlight — The Hero Super Splendor was recently refreshed, giving it alloy wheels and fresh body colours.

A report on the Financial Express states that output of variants like the Splendor iSmart, Splendor Pro, Splendor NXG and Splendor, along with the Super Splendor will be increased. The iSmart, for instance, will see its daily production go up from the present 800 to around 1,200 units.

Production will be upped as soon as the company's 4th manufacturing facility in Neemrana, Rajasthan, goes on stream in June. The export volumes of the Splendor and its variants will also be boosted, says the report.

Hero Splendor iSMART side — Due to increased demand, close to 1,200 units of the Hero Splendor iSmart will be made each day, up from 800 currently.

In March 2014, the Honda Activa surpassed Hero Splendor as the highest-selling two-wheeler in India. While the Splendor sold a total of 1.64 lakh units, the Activa sold a whole 15,000 units more at 1.78 lakh units. Honda introduced the Activa 125 cc variant last month that could increment sales of the scooter brand considerably.

The Splendor is seeing a resurgence in sales as compared to the end of 2013, when Hero's dealers had inventories to last them 7-8 months. Even as sales of other companies like Bajaj and TVS have dipped or held steady, Hero Motocorp has managed to grow at 3.4 percent for the 2013-14 fiscal year, selling 62 lakh units.

[Source - The Financial Express]