Hero Moto faces product delays

Hero Moto Corp's plan to have a robust research and development (R&D) platform after separa tion from Japanese partner Honda has received a severe jolt. The company's US technology part ner Eric Buell Racing (EBR) filed for bankruptcy in April, which will result in a "slight pushback" on timelines of new product launches, said Pawan Munjal, CMD of Hero MotoCorp Stock Market Trading Tips

Hero had acquired 49% stake in EBR in 2013 for $25 million (around Rs 148 crore). The push back is expected to be "under one year or so", Munjal to TOI. He said the products be ing developed with EBR, which include a 250cc bike `HX250R' and hybrid scooter `Leap', will now be developed in India. The company was also working on a series of futuristic concept models with EBR that included `iON' scooter and `Hastur' 600cc bike. Munjal said Hero is "open to looking at newer technology coming in from various different sources. It could be through mergers and acquisitions or technology support programmes". 

Hero, which is developing an in-house R&D centre at Jaipur with an investment of Rs 500 crore, also has technology tie ups with other companies. These include Engines Engineering of Italy (for endto-end two-wheeler design and development), AVL of Austria (for engine development) and a joint venture with Magneti Marelli of Italy (for fuel-injection technology) Financial Astrology Tips