Hero MotoCorp Plans New Premium Bikes to Boost Market Share

Hero MotoCorp plans to launch three to four new premium motorcycles over the next five months of FY27 to build its presence in larger-capacity engine segments. While the company dominates the commuter bike market, its market share in larger bikes remains below two percent. Chief Executive Officer Harshavardhan Chitale stated during the Q2 FY27 earnings call that the company will focus on four core brands for growth: Xtreme, Xpulse, Karizma, and models made together with Harley-Davidson. The upcoming launches follow recent updates to the Xtreme 160R and Xtreme 250R in October. Meanwhile, the Sprint 440 entry-level cruiser is expected to launch in India following its global debut at the EICMA 2026 trade show. Data from SIAM shows that domestic dispatches in the 150-350cc categories grew 31 percent year-on-year during H1 FY27, much faster than the roughly 5 percent growth in 100cc and 125cc commuter bikes. During the first half, Hero dispatched about 28,000 motorcycles in the 150-200cc category. In contrast, TVS Motor sold 3.34 lakh Apache motorcycles and Bajaj Auto sold 2.11 lakh units in the same category. Anuj Dua, Chief Business Officer of the Premium Business Unit, noted that the company has large headroom to grow despite current weak results. Within the portfolio, the Xpulse adventure bike range saw over 30 percent retail growth in H1 FY27 and held more than a 35 percent share of its segment, according to Chitale. A simpler, lower-capacity Xpulse model has also been spotted at company facilities. To support these new models, Hero is expanding its Premia dealership network to about 150 stores in major cities and starting structured community events from December. Chief Financial Officer Vivek Anand added that the company expanded its dedicated premium assembly line at Neemrana, even as rising commodity costs pressure profit margins.

Context

Major two-wheeler makers in India are increasingly shifting focus toward higher-capacity motorcycles as urban buyers demand more powerful and lifestyle-oriented machines. Expanding specialized dealership networks like Premia allows traditional mass-market brands to offer a buying experience that matches showrooms of premium global competitors.