Hero MotoCorp, the country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, today inaugurated its state-of-the-art Hero Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

The sprawling facility houses the best global technologies for product design, development, R&D, testing and validation. The campus also boasts world-class test tracks that are 16km long and have 45 different surfaces to simulate, both Indian and global, real-world road conditions.

Dedicating the 247-acre centre to the country, Pawan Munjal, chairman, managing director and CEO of Hero MotoCorp, said: “We aim to introduce cost-efficient and game-changing solutions for India and the world. My dream is to make Hero MotoCorp the world’s No. 1 two-wheeler company in every sense and dimension.”

Home to over 500 automotive experts with global and regional expertise, the operations at CIT will be headed by Dr Markus Braunsperger, chief technology officer of Hero MotoCorp. According to Dr Braunsperger, “CIT is the new home of our R&D team and the commencement of operations here is a major milestone in our endeavour to ramp up the product development competency to global standards at Hero. Within this facility we are establishing new work processes and enhancing our technical skills to global benchmarks. We will compete globally, attracting the best talent from India and across the world."

Dr Markus Braunsperger also added, "Hero CIT will be a unique workplace for engineering talent in India. We are bringing our R&D vision to life through this facility. Within this, we are establishing new work processes and enhancing our technical skills to global benchmarks. The future roadmap for Hero CIT has four main objectives – setting up systems, strengthening our talent pipeline, strengthening our product portfolio and fulfilling global standards."

He remarked that the average age at the facility is just 30 years. "The young, free-thinking minds would be our biggest asset going forward," he said.

Talking to our sister publication Autocar Professional about his vision of the R&D facility in Jaipur 10 years down the line, Dr Braunsperger said that the facility should be attractive for any engineer on this planet, and the Hero Centre of Innovation and Technology is one of the best two-wheeler research and development facilities in India, and also in the world.