The e-bicycle segment in India is about to get a strong push, as Hero Cycles, Yamaha and Mitsui have forged an alliance that will roll out E-MTBs in the country. Yamaha will supply electric drive units for the bicycles. The announcement was made at Yamaha headquarters in Iwata, Japan by Pawan Munjal, chairman of Hero Motors Company (HMC) along with the top bosses from Yamaha and Mitsui (a trading, investment and service enterprise).
The announcement comes shortly after Hero Cycles announced its ‘Cycle Valley’ project which will be set up in Ludhiana. This manufacturing hub will serve as an end-to-end supply chain for bicycle industry by creating JVs with global players in bicycle component manufacturers, according to Hero. The E-MTB segment has also witnessed a rapid growth in Europe and this JV plans to replicate the success in India, too.
On the JV with Yamaha and Mitsui, Pawan Munjal, chairman of HMC, said, “The partnership has been formed with a forward looking plan which includes development of new e-mobility products jointly by Hero and Yamaha, with go-to-market sales, distribution & marketing support by Mitsui & Co., Ltd.”
Hero Cycles Ltd is the world’s largest integrated bicycle manufacturer by volume, as it manufactures and sells more than 19000 bicycles a day. Sub-brands of Hero Motors Company are Firefox Bikes India, Avocet Sports UK and BSH Ventures from Sri Lanka.