Hero MotoCorp To Launch Its First Electric Motorcycles in 2027

Hero MotoCorp is preparing to enter India’s electric motorcycle market with its first batch of electric motorcycles next year, marking a significant expansion of the country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer’s EV strategy. The company already has an established electric scooter business under its VIDA brand, but the planned motorcycles would extend its electric portfolio into a category where the company has historically built its strongest position with petrol-powered models.

The planned launch comes as India’s electric two-wheeler market continues to expand and competition intensifies among established manufacturers and EV-focused companies. Hero MotoCorp has been increasing investment in electric mobility, expanding VIDA’s product range and manufacturing capacity while developing electric motorcycle concepts under its emerging-mobility businesses. The company’s entry into electric motorcycles could therefore become an important test of whether its large existing motorcycle customer base can be converted to electric products.

What Happened

Hero MotoCorp is set to introduce its first electric motorcycles in 2027, according to the company’s latest plans reported by Inc42. The motorcycles will expand the company’s EV portfolio beyond its VIDA electric scooters and represent a new product category for its electric-mobility business.

The company has already been developing electric motorcycle concepts. At EICMA 2025 in Milan, Hero MotoCorp unveiled electric motorcycle concepts under the VIDA NOVUS portfolio and also showcased off-road electric motorcycle concepts through VIDA DIRT.E.

Hero has therefore been working on electric motorcycles for some time, although the upcoming products will be the company’s first commercial electric motorcycles rather than simply concept vehicles.

Hero MotoCorp’s EV Strategy

Area	Current Position
Electric scooter brand	VIDA
Planned new category	Electric motorcycles
First electric motorcycle	Expected in 2027
Existing EV products	VIDA VX2 range and other electric mobility products
Electric motorcycle concepts	VIDA NOVUS and VIDA DIRT.E
FY26 VIDA retail	151,748 units
FY26 EV market share	11.2% in March 2026
EV manufacturing capacity	Being expanded significantly

Hero MotoCorp reported that VIDA achieved its highest-ever annual retail volume of 151,748 units in FY26, representing a roughly 2.9-fold increase over FY25. Its EV market share reached 11.2% in March 2026, compared with 6.1% a year earlier.

From VIDA Scooters to Electric Motorcycles

Hero’s electric strategy has so far been concentrated primarily on scooters.

The VIDA VX2 has become the company’s key electric scooter platform, with Hero adding variants including a 3.4 kWh version. The company has also introduced Battery-as-a-Service, a subscription-oriented model intended to lower the upfront cost of electric scooters and make EV ownership more accessible.

Electric motorcycles could give Hero access to a different and potentially much larger customer segment.

Unlike scooters, motorcycles remain central to India’s two-wheeler market, particularly outside major metropolitan areas. Hero has built its business around motorcycles such as the Splendor, HF Deluxe, Xtreme and other models, giving the company considerable experience in this category.

Moving that brand strength into electric motorcycles could therefore be strategically important.

Why Electric Motorcycles Matter

India’s EV market has expanded rapidly, but electric scooters have accounted for much of the consumer adoption.

Electric motorcycles have developed more slowly because buyers typically expect longer range, stronger performance and familiar motorcycle ergonomics. Battery size and weight can also have a greater effect on motorcycle design, particularly when manufacturers are trying to keep prices competitive.

Hero’s entry could change the competitive landscape because the company has extensive experience in motorcycle manufacturing and a large distribution and service network.

The challenge will be developing an electric motorcycle that offers a compelling combination of range, performance, price and charging convenience.

Hero’s Existing Electric Motorcycle Development

The upcoming launch is not Hero MotoCorp’s first public demonstration of electric motorcycle technology.

The company showcased electric motorcycle concepts through its VIDA DIRT.E programme, including an off-road-focused series. Hero also presented electric mobility concepts under VIDA NOVUS at EICMA.

These concepts indicate that Hero is exploring multiple applications for electric motorcycles rather than limiting its EV strategy to commuter products.

However, concept vehicles often contain technology and design elements that do not necessarily appear unchanged in production models. The specifications, pricing and positioning of the motorcycles planned for commercial launch will therefore be important details to watch.

Manufacturing Capacity Is Being Expanded

Hero is simultaneously expanding its EV manufacturing capabilities.

The company’s FY26 disclosures said EV manufacturing capacity had already increased by 50% and was targeted to double again by the end of FY27. The company was moving toward capacity of 25,000-30,000 electric units per month and beyond.

That expansion could provide the production infrastructure needed to support a broader EV portfolio.

Increasing manufacturing capacity ahead of new product launches also gives Hero more flexibility to scale successful products without having to immediately undertake another major capacity expansion.

Electric Two-Wheeler Market Is Getting More Competitive

Hero’s electric motorcycle plans come at a time when competition in India’s electric two-wheeler market is increasing.

Established manufacturers including TVS Motor, Bajaj Auto and Hero MotoCorp are competing with EV-focused companies such as Ola Electric and Ather Energy. Manufacturers are increasingly using their existing distribution networks and engineering capabilities to expand EV portfolios.

Recent industry data indicates that electric two-wheeler registrations have continued to grow rapidly. July 2026 registrations were reported at more than 1.9 lakh units, with TVS recording particularly strong growth.

The growth suggests that electric two-wheelers are moving beyond a niche segment, although competition for market share remains intense.

Hero’s Conventional Motorcycle Strength Could Help

Hero MotoCorp’s greatest potential advantage in electric motorcycles is its established motorcycle business.

The company has decades of experience manufacturing motorcycles for Indian consumers and operates one of the country’s largest two-wheeler distribution and service networks.

This could help address several concerns that have affected EV adoption, particularly after-sales service and availability of spare parts.

An electric motorcycle buyer may be more comfortable choosing a new product from a manufacturer with an established service network than from a smaller startup with limited physical coverage.

However, established brand strength does not automatically guarantee EV success. Hero will still need to demonstrate that its electric motorcycles offer competitive technology and economics.

Pricing Will Be Critical

Price is likely to be one of the most important factors in Hero’s electric motorcycle strategy.

India’s motorcycle market is highly price-sensitive, especially in commuter segments where buyers often prioritize affordability, fuel economy and reliability.

Electric motorcycles can potentially offer lower running costs, but their upfront price is influenced heavily by battery costs and other electrical components.

Hero will therefore need to find a balance between battery capacity and affordability.

A motorcycle with a large battery and long range could become expensive, while a lower-cost model with limited range may struggle to convince consumers to move away from petrol motorcycles.

Battery and Charging Infrastructure

Battery technology will also play a central role in Hero’s electric motorcycle plans.

Consumers are likely to compare electric motorcycles based on range, charging time, battery warranty, performance and long-term replacement costs.

Charging infrastructure remains another consideration. Home charging can work well for many urban users, but longer-distance motorcycle travel requires greater availability of public charging infrastructure.

Hero’s ability to integrate charging support, battery services and financing into its EV ownership proposition could influence adoption.

Hero’s Broader Electric Mobility Investments

Hero’s EV strategy extends beyond its own electric scooters and motorcycles.

The company increased its stake in electric commercial-vehicle startup Euler Motors to 36.7% during FY26, reinforcing its interest in last-mile electric mobility.

This indicates that Hero is approaching electric mobility as a broader strategic opportunity rather than treating EVs solely as a replacement for its existing petrol motorcycles.

The company is also investing in emerging mobility technologies and developing products aimed at different segments.

Challenges Ahead

Hero’s entry into electric motorcycles will come with several challenges.

The first is technological differentiation. The company will be competing against manufacturers that have already developed dedicated electric platforms and gained experience with connected features, batteries and software.

The second is customer expectations. Hero’s conventional motorcycles are known primarily for practicality and affordability, so consumers may expect the same characteristics from its electric products.

The third is profitability. Rapid EV growth does not necessarily translate into strong margins, particularly when manufacturers spend heavily on product development, batteries, manufacturing capacity and customer incentives.

Hero will need to scale volumes while maintaining financial discipline.

What It Means for Consumers

The arrival of Hero electric motorcycles could give Indian buyers more choices in a segment that has so far been dominated by a smaller number of EV-focused manufacturers.

Hero’s large dealership and service network could also make electric motorcycles more accessible to customers outside India’s largest cities.

If the company successfully combines its traditional strengths in reliability and affordability with competitive electric technology, it could help accelerate EV adoption in the motorcycle segment.

For existing Hero customers, the ability to move from a petrol-powered motorcycle to an electric model within the same broader ecosystem could also reduce some of the barriers associated with switching brands.

Industry Impact

Hero MotoCorp’s entry could encourage other major motorcycle manufacturers to accelerate their own electric product plans.

The Indian two-wheeler industry is moving toward a more diversified powertrain landscape in which petrol, ethanol-compatible internal-combustion engines and electric vehicles will compete for different consumer segments.

For EV startups, the arrival of another major incumbent could increase pressure on pricing, distribution and product development.

For component suppliers, the shift could create additional demand for batteries, electric motors, power electronics, software and charging equipment.

Looking Ahead

Hero MotoCorp’s planned electric motorcycle launch in 2027 represents a significant next step in the company’s transition toward a broader electric-mobility portfolio. The company has already demonstrated that it can scale its VIDA electric scooter business, with FY26 retail volumes reaching 151,748 units and EV market share increasing substantially during the year. Moving into motorcycles will allow Hero to apply its manufacturing expertise, brand recognition and distribution network to a much larger part of India’s two-wheeler market.

The key factors to watch will be the motorcycles’ pricing, battery range, performance, charging strategy and positioning within Hero’s existing portfolio. Investors will also be watching whether the company can scale EV production without putting excessive pressure on margins. For the wider industry, a successful Hero electric motorcycle could accelerate competition in the segment and encourage more mainstream motorcycle buyers to consider switching from petrol to electric power.