Giant Indian bike maker Hero to launch in Europe next year

BIKES like this 620cc street-fighter are likely to reach the UK following an announcement by Indian maker Hero MotoCorp that it will launch products in Europe next year.

The firm – the world's largest two-wheeler maker – is also behind the HX250R, a 31hp single-cylinder sports bike designed by Erik Buell Racing, which Hero owns a near 50% stake in.

Both machines are on Hero's stand at this week's Eicma motorcycle show in Milan, where the plans were announced.

The firm said it would first launch products in Italy, Spain and France, then the UK and Germany.

Visordown recently revealed Hero had applied to trademark the 'HX250R' name in Europe. The fully-faired sports bike is due to be launched in India next year.

The Hastur 620, an aggressively-styled parallel-twin street-fighter making a claimed 80hp, was unveiled as a concept at the Dehli Auto Expo earlier this year. It made its European debut at Eicma this week.

Hero CEO Pawan Munjal said at Eicma: 'Today, one out of every 10 bikes sold globally is a Hero bike and every second two-wheeler sold in India is from Hero. This places us in a unique position to expand our business into new markets across continents... We are now looking at stepping into the European market by the end of 2015.'

A spokesman said Hero products would reach the UK by 2017.

A statement from the firm added: 'Hero MotoCorp Ltd, the world's largest manufacturer of two-wheelers, today announced its plans to enter the European markets by the end of 2015.

'In the first phase of its foray into Europe, Hero MotoCorp aims to launch its products in Italy, Spain and France; followed by the UK and Germany in the next phase of expansion.'   

The firm said the first launch would be a new 125cc hybrid scooter called the 'Leap'.