Manchester-based Indian-owned bike manufacturer Hero Cycles has presented its electric ‘e -bike’ range to the Indian and British Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Theresa May during the Commonwealth Summit in London.

The Prime Ministers met with Hero’s chairman and managing director Pankaj Munjal during a visit to the Francis Crick Institute in London and were shown its Lectro bike range (see notes to editors 1). Hero Cycles is the biggest bike manufacturer in the world by volume and became one of the most high profile Indian companies in the UK when it bought Manchester based bike company Avocet Sports in 2015.  In January 2017 Hero unveiled a new £2million ‘global design centre’ in Manchester near the National Velodrome, the home of British cycling. Manchester beat competition from Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Berlin to host the design centre.

Avocet Sports Limited’s CEO Sreeram Venkateswaran said Mr Munjal was able to explain to the Prime Ministers how Hero is fusing UK and Indian expertise.

“We were immensely proud to able to tell the Prime Ministers how Hero is in the vanguard of future UK India trade relations,” he said. “We have put the UK at the very centre of our growth ambitions by buying Avocet and investing in the new global design centre in Manchester. We believe the UK is the natural partner for Indian manufacturers where we can share knowledge and learning. Our Manchester design centre will lead innovation of our bike ranges which will then be built at our factories in India and around the world. This follows closely Mr Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign. Hero is following other Indian companies in investing in British companies with heritage brands Jaguar Land Rover and Royal Enfield. Avocet operated the Viking and Ryedale bike brands which we are keen to recalibrate for future generations starting with our new brand launch in May.”

 

Mr Venkateswaran said showcasing Hero’s Lectro electric bike was especially important.

“Hero is committed to using cycling as a force for good,” he said. “Our Lectro e-bikes range can help cut carbon emissions and take cars off the road. In addition, recent studies have shown the enormous health benefits of cycling improving fitness and immune systems particularly among older people (see notes to editors 2).”

Hero Cycles will launch its eagerly anticipated new range of British designed bikes at a special ceremony at Old Trafford football ground on May 3.

Tim Newns CEO of Manchester inward investment agency Midas said:

“India is a key market for Greater Manchester, which for the last two years has been running the campaign “Make in India, Innovate in Manchester” and Hero Cycles’ creation of its Global Development Centre in Manchester epitomises the campaign’s aim,” he said. “The idea of the campaign is to support India’s “Make in India” policy, whilst leveraging the immense innovation strengths of Greater Manchester and the wider North, which can help drive growth for significant global Indian companies such as Hero. The city remains highly attractive to investors due to its world leading research specialisms and talented workforce, but also its connectivity to other global market places. The Lectro Bike is an exciting new product that will I am sure be a great global hit, but it will also help to move Manchester towards its goal of being a green city.”

NOTES TO EDITORS 

• Lectro bikes background. The Lectro range of e-bikes include various styles and sizes including a smaller wheeler version for children and a larger wheeled version for adults. There is also a fat-wheel bicycle, which has become a recent global trend in the urban bicycle market. The new Lectro bicycles will feature a 250-watt electric motor in the rear hub wheel and a 48-volt or 36 volt battery pack. The 48-volt battery pack is mounted on the lower tube on the frame while the top of the line model will have an inbuilt battery pack inside the rear hub.

The bicycles will offer a range of just over 40 kilometers on a single charge. The folding bike variant also has a high torque motor to assist the rider a more than the standard variants. The level of assist can be controlled through a module on the handlebar. From 0 (or 0ff) to 5, the assist level feels noticeable different when ridden and also offers a much larger boost at the highest setting.

2) A recent study of 125 long-distance cyclists, some now in their 80s, found they had the immune systems of 20-year-olds. Visit BBC report

 

Hero Cycles Limited

 

Hero Cycles Limited was founded in India in 1956. It is the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world by volume producing 19,000 cycles per day and 5.2million per year. This represents one out of every 20 of the world’s bicycles. Hero Cycles has manufacturing units in Ludhiana (Punjab), Bihta (Bihar) & Ghaziabad (UP). It is part of the Hero Motors Company which has revenues of $400million and $1.2billion in assets employing circa 8,000 staff.

 

The company exports to more than 70 countries through a network of circa 250 suppliers and 2800 dealerships. Its bike range includes road bikes, hybrid bikes, children’s bikes, electric-bikes, mountain bikes, BMX and roadster models. Hero in India also manufactures automobile components like chassis for cars, safety components and transmission for motorcycles.

 

In August 2015, it acquired British brand Avocet Sports with 51pc stake targeting high-end bicycle market in Europe and now has full ownership. In 2015, it also acquired Firefox Bikes – India’s largest premium bicycle brand with an established presence Pan-India through a network of 160 outlets. In 2016, it acquired a majority stake in Sri Lanka’s leading bicycle manufacturer BSH Ventures, further boosting its manufacturing capacity. As part of major expansion plans across Europe it launched the £2million Hero Cycles Global Design Centre (HGD) in Manchester, UK, in January 2017. The design hub is led by creative minds from across the world including innovators from India, Taiwan and Denmark.

 

Hero Cycles is ISO9001 & ISO14001 Certified from BVC of UK and recognized by the R&D department by the Govt. of India.