The country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp on Tuesday launched two new scooters to bolster its scooter portfolio. The Maestro Edge that goes on sale mid-October and the Duet which goes on sale slightly later are the first products developed by Hero’s own Research and Development (R&D) team to be launched in India. The Maestro Edge which was called the ‘Dash’ in export markets was recently launched in Colombia.

Hero MotoCorp Chairman Pawan Munjal said that this was just the start for the manufacturer’s aggressive launch plans as they plan to bring in their own technology. Showcasing their new Jaipur R&D campus, which he said was going to be opened on January 14, 2016, Munjal reiterated the company’s plans to target 10 million unit sales by 2020.

Hero which has over half the market in motorcycles has failed to make the same impact in the rapidly growing scooter market where they have only a 13 per cent market share and are currently tussling with TVS Motor for second and third place. Munjal did not mince his words and said that the manufacturer will be aiming for a ‘leadership’ position in the scooter market going forward.

He did not give any numbers but added that in addition to the Gurgaon plant of the factory that is already producing scooters, the new Neemrana facility and the upcoming plant in Halol, Gujarat will also manufacture scooters.

“I expect the scooter market to continue growing, maybe not at the rapid pace of the past a few years but as more women buy scooters and families see the value in such products, this segment will continue to grow. In the 1980’s and 1990’s scooters outsold motorcycles and it was the introduction of modern products that led to rapid rise of motorcycle sales. I do not know where the pendulum will settle on scooter sales vis-a-vis motorcycles, but they will grow”, Munjal mentioned.

Markus Braunsperger, Hero’s head of R&D who joined the company from German manufacturer BMW last year added that these new products will stand out in the crowd.