<p>The country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp (HMCL) on Thursday inagurated its Global Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur, Rajasthan. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The plant, spread over 247 acres, boasts of 16 km long tracks, which have 45 different surfaces to simulate all Indian and international road conditions.<br /><br />Speaking at the launch, Pawan Munjal, Chairman and Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Hero MotoCorp, said, “This sprawling CIT is a giant leap from our three-acre R&D facility in Dharuhera. Close to 100 acres have been dedicated to test tracks, and there are 22 ponds created to ensure maximum recharge through rain water. The Centre is designed by international architects and a design consortium.”<br /><br />He added that there are a very few R&D facilities of this scale around the globe, and this one is the first in India, espcially for two-wheelers.<br /><br />Built with an investment of Rs 850 crore, the facility houses all aspects of R&D under one roof. “We have about 500 engineers with global and regional expertise, and we are planning to take this number to 600 by the next fiscal year,” said chief technology officer Markus Braunsperger, adding this centre is self-sufficient for new product design, prototype manufacturing, testing and validation.<br /><br />“We want to explore product portfolio beyond 100 cc, and if you look at the average age of people at this centre, it is only 30, and this is our biggest strength,” said Braunsperger. Already, Hero has unveiled its two new products — the Duet and Maestro Edge — developed in-house with its own technology. The CTO said all the products getting into mass production will be developed from this facility.<br /><br /> Explaining Hero’s global presence, Munjal said, “We already have our presence in many countries, and this month, we will enter the Nigerian market, and very soon to Mexico.”<br />Will the largest two-wheeler manufacturer enter the four-wheeler segment? “Right now, our focus is only on the present segment, and to get into the premium market,” said Munjal.</p>
<p>The country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp (HMCL) on Thursday inagurated its Global Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur, Rajasthan. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The plant, spread over 247 acres, boasts of 16 km long tracks, which have 45 different surfaces to simulate all Indian and international road conditions.<br /><br />Speaking at the launch, Pawan Munjal, Chairman and Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Hero MotoCorp, said, “This sprawling CIT is a giant leap from our three-acre R&D facility in Dharuhera. Close to 100 acres have been dedicated to test tracks, and there are 22 ponds created to ensure maximum recharge through rain water. The Centre is designed by international architects and a design consortium.”<br /><br />He added that there are a very few R&D facilities of this scale around the globe, and this one is the first in India, espcially for two-wheelers.<br /><br />Built with an investment of Rs 850 crore, the facility houses all aspects of R&D under one roof. “We have about 500 engineers with global and regional expertise, and we are planning to take this number to 600 by the next fiscal year,” said chief technology officer Markus Braunsperger, adding this centre is self-sufficient for new product design, prototype manufacturing, testing and validation.<br /><br />“We want to explore product portfolio beyond 100 cc, and if you look at the average age of people at this centre, it is only 30, and this is our biggest strength,” said Braunsperger. Already, Hero has unveiled its two new products — the Duet and Maestro Edge — developed in-house with its own technology. The CTO said all the products getting into mass production will be developed from this facility.<br /><br /> Explaining Hero’s global presence, Munjal said, “We already have our presence in many countries, and this month, we will enter the Nigerian market, and very soon to Mexico.”<br />Will the largest two-wheeler manufacturer enter the four-wheeler segment? “Right now, our focus is only on the present segment, and to get into the premium market,” said Munjal.</p>
