Hero to Phase Out Products Engineered with Honda

If the rumours are to be believed, Hero MotoCorp will soon phase out Impulse and Ignitor motorcycles and Maestro scooter. The reason behind this rather shocking move turns out to be the fact that these products employ technology from their ex-partner, Honda Motor Company. It has barely been a year since these three products were first launched in India, with the latest one's, i.e. Ignitor, launch in July. Pawan Munjal, MD, Hero MotoCorp, announced that the company has signed a technology-based agreement with a European design and technology provider, for Hero MotoCorp now hopes to establish an autonomous and potent R&D wing.

He further explained that this move will help the company move forward and develop products with their new partners so that it can replace those developed with their erstwhile partner Honda. A joint venture between the Hero Group and Honda Motor Company was first established in 1984. But the Japanese auto giant exited the 26-year-old partnership in 2010 after a series of rising differences over technology and royalties. After the joint venture came to an abrupt end, the Indian two wheeler major decided to tread the road ahead alone. On the other hand, they tied up with the American superbike company Erik Buell Racing in February, Austrian engine manufacturer AVL in March, and now the European firm to explore and develop new technology for its two wheelers.

But what surprises the most is the fact that even though Hero MotoCorp has decided to phase out the Impulse, Ignitor and Maestro, it is still heavily promoting the 110cc scooter Maestro. And the biggest disappointment will be the discontinuation of its dual purpose on-off road motorcycle, i.e. Impulse. Launched in 2011, Impulse had revived the aforementioned segment, which had been dormant ever since Bajaj stopped the production of its Enduro SX100.  

Source: Bikeindia.in