While Hero MotoCorp and Hero Electric have similar names, the two named companies are not related to each other. Rather, both companies are entirely different entities and further in this article, we will explain how.
With the recent launch of Hero MotoCorp’s first electric scooter - Vida V1, many people confused the scooter as a production by Hero Electric, even though Hero Electric and Hero MotoCorp have no association with each other at all.
Hero Electric is a business segment under the umbrella of Hero EcoTech, led by Vijay Munjal and his son Naveen Munjal. In India, the company is a pioneer in the electric two-wheeler industry. In addition, they offer a range of cost-effective, utilitarian electric scooters. The EVs are known for being low maintenance and offer top speeds of around 25 or 45 kmph.
Hero Electric 2-wheelers are domestically manufactured and are sold through their strong dealer network. However, with the emergence of new rivals like Okinawa, Ola Electric, and other domestic manufacturers like Ather, Bajaj, and TVS, the company will definitely have a challenging time in the industry. Nevertheless, Hero Electric has however steadily grown the number of its dealers and customers in the nation to the point that it has monopolised a substantial portion of the market. As a result, in terms of sales, the company ranks third in the first half of the fiscal year 2022-2023. (April-September 2022).
1. Hero Electric Atria LX
2. Hero Electric NYX E5
3. Hero Electric NYX HS500 ER
4. Hero Electric Optima CX
5. Hero Electric Photon LP
6. Hero Eddy
Pawan Munjal (Vijay Munjal’s uncle) is the CEO of Hero MotoCorp. Despite the fact that they both use the Hero branding and the Hero family name, their approaches to running their businesses are very much like chalk and cheese. Both follow different approaches and have entirely opposite ways of running their firms. Hero Electric is one of the major EV players. But it pales in significance when compared to Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer. The latter never entered the EV space, which has kept them apart thus far.
The two businesses’ offerings are completely different from one another. First off, compared to Hero Electric’s goods, the V1 has significantly better features and capabilities. The Hero Vida V1 electric scooters offer much more in terms of performance, battery life, top speed, and gradeability. This also reflects in the pricing, which starts at Rs. 1.45 lakh (ex-showroom), nearly twice as much as the most costly Hero Electric scooter. In actuality, the Hero Vida V1 Pro is currently the most expensive electric scooter available.
1. Hero Vida v1 Pro
2. Hero Vida v1 Plus
Now you must be wondering that if Hero Electric and Vida are aiming at quite different demographics, then why didn’t Hero MotoCorp give its first electric vehicle a Hero Branding? And why did they have to create a sub-brand- Vida Electric? Let’s find out.
According to a family settlement from 2010, Hero MotoCorp agreed not to use the Hero brand name for its electric vehicles. This granted Hero Electric the exclusive right to use the name on its EVs. Both EVs sold in India and those sold overseas qualified for this.
But in recent years, every manufacturer worth their salt has had to enter the rapidly expanding EV market. To put things in perspective, during the first half of FY2023, India sold more than 2.75 lakh electric two-wheelers (April-September 2022).
Hero MotoCorp announced its intention to introduce its own electric scooter because it plainly didn’t want to fall behind. Hero Electric would have had a problem if Hero MotoCorp had put the Hero emblem on its scooter. What’s a name made of? Considering the brand cachet that “Hero” commands, quite a bit.
Hero MotoCorp fought to have the Hero badge on its electric vehicle products, which led to legal disputes in the Delhi High Court. But, Hero Electric abandoned its complaint against Hero MotoCorp in February of this year, and the subject was referred to an arbitration tribunal. Hero MotoCorp was granted permission by the tribunal to use the name Hero for its electric two-wheelers in a decision made in June.
However, Hero MotoCorp had already made plans, started working on an EV, and even debuted the Vida brand in March. Nevertheless, with the introduction of the V1 Pro and V1 Plus electric scooters, the firm stayed true to its brand.
Hero MotoCorp fought hard to keep the Hero brand on its electric two-wheelers. Nevertheless, the Vida branding will actually help set itself apart from Hero Electric and make an entirely different brand identity for itself. However, only time can tell how all this plays out for Hero MotoCorp and how much of an impact it will have on the Hero Vida Electric Scooter on the market.
It is also intriguing to note Hero MotoCorp’s recent partnership with Zero Motorcycles, a premium American manufacturer of electric bikes, to produce electric bikes together.
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