India’s largest two-wheeler maker, Hero MotoCorp, has extended its partnership with the US-based premium motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson. The two companies aim to co-develop and manufacture a new motorcycle and expand the existing co-developed model into new variants.

1. The partnership has been extended to develop a new model
2. Will also create new variants for existing co-developed models

Hero and Harley Davidson partnership extension details

Hero MotoCorp and Harley-Davidson have been collaborating since 2020 to co-develop and sell motorcycles for India and select international markets. The Harley-Davidson X440, launched in 2023, was the first co-developed model. It is currently being manufactured at Hero MotoCorp's Garden Factory at Neemrana, Rajasthan, and has an ex-showroom price of Rs 2.80 lakh.

Explaining the rationale behind the extension of the partnership, Hero MotoCorp said in an exchange filing: “The extension of the existing collaboration between Hero and Harley-Davidson, which has been in place since October 2020, will expand the X440 motorcycle into new variants and develop and manufacture a new motorcycle.”

Entry-level or 100-110cc motorcycles have been the core of Hero MotoCorp. However, with the premium motorcycle market growing at a significantly higher rate than the commuter segment in recent years, Hero MotoCorp has shifted its focus more toward the 125cc and premium segments, as well as XTECH variants, with a strategy involving the highest number of product launches in the current financial year.

The collaboration with Harley-Davidson is seen as an attempt by Hero MotoCorp to change its brand image in the premium space. In January, Hero MotoCorp introduced its roadster model – the Mavrick. It is based on Harley-Davidson’s X440 platform and is the first co-developed model to be sold under Hero’s brand.

The extension of the partnership also comes at a time when Hero MotoCorp is working on its first electric motorcycle. Our sister publication Autocar Professional had earlier reported that Hero MotoCorp intends to have a portfolio of six electric motorcycles under the Vida range and another four motorcycles under its alliance with Zero Motors, starting from 2025-2026.

Other major two-wheeler makers – Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor – also have partnerships with Triumph and BMW Motorrad, respectively, to co-develop and manufacture premium two-wheelers in India.