Munjals plan to finalise details after the launch of the Tatas’ Rs 1-lakh car in order to lower risk
After the Tata group, it’s the turn of the Munjals—one of the most dominant families in the Indian automobile sector—to turn their attention to making a sub-800cc car. The Hero group, which wants to “be a fast second” to the Tatas, is planning to develop a 500-cc car, possibly in partnership with Canada’s Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP).
“The Tatas are setting a tone, a standard. But competition will not be far behind and we (the Hero group) are viewing it very closely,” Pankaj Munjal, managing director, Hero Motors, told FE. He said that the entire family, including “uncle” BM Munjal of Hero Honda, would be part of the project.
Since the Munjals want to benefit from the Tatas’ “learnings”, they are planning to wait for the launch of the Tatas’ much-touted Rs 1-lakh car before their project takes definitive shape. “As a philosophy, we believe in being a fast second as there will be a lot of learnings from this high-risk project," Munjal said. “The second guy will be at a lower risk and will have a lot to learn from the first in terms of the shape and size of the proposed car, as well as its engine specifics,” he said.
The Hero group is exploring a tie-up with BRP, to which it already supplies transmissions for all-terrain vehicles. “BRP is already making around 500-cc engines for BMW bikes and something of similar engine size can be worked out to be fitted in a small car. They are experts in optimising engines and understand issues like thermodynamics, torque, fuel economy, power, etc.,” Munjal said.
The Munjals have already signalled their interest in the four-wheeler space with Pawan Munjal, MD, Hero Honda, stating last year that entry into the competitive four-wheeler segment would be a “natural transition”.
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=167000
After the Tata group, it’s the turn of the Munjals—one of the most dominant families in the Indian automobile sector—to turn their attention to making a sub-800cc car. The Hero group, which wants to “be a fast second” to the Tatas, is planning to develop a 500-cc car, possibly in partnership with Canada’s Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP).
“The Tatas are setting a tone, a standard. But competition will not be far behind and we (the Hero group) are viewing it very closely,” Pankaj Munjal, managing director, Hero Motors, told FE. He said that the entire family, including “uncle” BM Munjal of Hero Honda, would be part of the project.
Since the Munjals want to benefit from the Tatas’ “learnings”, they are planning to wait for the launch of the Tatas’ much-touted Rs 1-lakh car before their project takes definitive shape. “As a philosophy, we believe in being a fast second as there will be a lot of learnings from this high-risk project," Munjal said. “The second guy will be at a lower risk and will have a lot to learn from the first in terms of the shape and size of the proposed car, as well as its engine specifics,” he said.
The Hero group is exploring a tie-up with BRP, to which it already supplies transmissions for all-terrain vehicles. “BRP is already making around 500-cc engines for BMW bikes and something of similar engine size can be worked out to be fitted in a small car. They are experts in optimising engines and understand issues like thermodynamics, torque, fuel economy, power, etc.,” Munjal said.
The Munjals have already signalled their interest in the four-wheeler space with Pawan Munjal, MD, Hero Honda, stating last year that entry into the competitive four-wheeler segment would be a “natural transition”.
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=167000
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