HERO MotoCorp introduced to the Philippine market
HERO MotoCorp – the largest motorcycle manufacturer in India – has now officially entered the Philippine market with its brand launch at the Columbian Group of Companies’ 10-hectare facility in Laguna yesterday, August 1, 2024.
XPulse 200 4V adventure bike
HERO MotoCorp, with their partner Terrafirma Motors Corporation (part of Columbian Group), also introduced 3 models: the XPulse 200 4V adventure bike at PHP 140,000, Hunk 160R naked bike at PHP 99,900 and the XOOM 110 scooter at PHP 69,900.
150,000-unit factory output
Part of the festivities is the tour around HERO MotoCorp’s factory which is built within Columbian Group’s 100,000 square meter (10 hectare) facility in Laguna. According to Sanjay Bhan, Chief Business Officer - Global Business Unit, HERO MotoCorp, its Laguna facility is capable of assembling up to 150,000 motorcycles annually, with plans of producing 20,000 units in its first year, 60,000 units in the second year and 100,000 units by the third year.
Bhan also said that rather than focusing on sales numbers, HERO MotoCorp’s mission in the Philippines – being its first market in the ASEAN region – is to first build trust among Filipinos, saying that once that trust is established, customers would say “We wish that you have come here earlier.”
When asked if establishing an assembly plant here in the Philippines also meant that HERO would be sourcing parts from local suppliers in the future, generating even more jobs for Filipinos, Bhan said that they might consider it provided that the locally sourced parts have competitive pricing and have a vendor ecosystem that complies with their standards.
So far, HERO MotoCorp Philippines has a flagship store in Montalban, Rizal coming up and plans to expand up to 400 dealerships nationwide, which includes dedicated 3S shops.
HERO MotoCorp
XOOM 110 scooter
HERO MotoCorp is an Indian motorcycle manufacturing company headquartered in Delhi. According to Bhan, HERO MotoCorp holds about 46% market share in the Indian two-wheeler market and is the largest motorcycle manufacturing company in India and the world since 2001.
HERO MotoCorp was established in 1984 as a joint venture between Hero Cycles of India and Honda of Japan. In 2010, HERO and Honda terminated their joint venture which allowed HERO to finally expand and export its products to international markets.
As of May 2024, HERO MotoCorp has a market capitalization value of USD 12 billion.
