Four reasons why this Hero has been struggling

The company

Hero MotoCorp, a name synonymous with two-wheeler vehicles in India, peaked with a 41 per cent market share. The company has sold over 10 crore motorcycles in its lifetime.

The struggling Hero

However, with a 2 per cent volume decline over the past decade and market share down to 33 per cent in FY23, Hero ranks at the bottom in terms of market cap.

Reasons for its struggles: 1) The Honda split

Hero lost its research and development (R&D) edge after the successful joint venture with Honda ended in 2011.

2) Scooter surge

The rise of scooters (or scooty) challenged Hero's dominance in motorcycles. These were priced similarly to Hero's mass-market vehicles and were easier to operate.

3) Premium segment struggle

In the premium 125cc+ motorcycle market, Hero held a tiny 3 per cent volume share as of 2023. Rivals like Royal Enfield, TVS and Suzuki outpace it.

4) EV market misstep

Late to EV (electric vehicle) space. Hero's Vida V1 lagged with only 3,286 sales in Nov 2023, trailing established players like Ola Electric and Okinawa.

The road ahead

Hero eyes revival in the premium and EV segments. It is hopeful for a breakthrough launch to reignite its engine.

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