Erik Buell Racing to be Hero MotoCorp's distributor in USA

Come 2014, the world's largest two wheeler maker by volumes, Hero MotoCorp, could be the second two wheeler maker to enter the United States in a big way, after Royal Enfield, which has already been selling its motorcycle range in that part of the world for over half a decade. Hero MotoCorp's motorcycles and scooters will be distributed in the United States through Erik Buell Racing. Hero MotoCorp holds a 49.2 % stake on Erik Buell Racing, a company engaged to develop new products and supply engine technology to Hero.  

Details of the products that Hero MotoCorp is likely to sell in the United States remain unknown at the moment. Given the fact that Hero MotoCorp is predominantly a maker of commuter motorcycles and scooters, stuff that might not have much of a market in the United States, all-new products are likely to get the go-ahead for the American market. One such product is the Leap Hybrid scooter, which was first showcased by Hero MotoCorp at the 2012 Indian Auto Expo. 

Notably, Erik Buell Racing was instrumental in developing the concept version of the Leap Hybrid scooter for Hero MotoCorp. Also, Erik Buell Racing holds a patent for s series-hybrid automatic scooter, the technology underpinning the Leap Hybrid. Also, Hero MotoCorp announced last year that it was looking at production-izing the Leap Hybrid scooter concept. Keeping these factors in mind, it is likely that Hero MotoCorp's US foray would be spearheaded by the Leap scooter. 

The Leap Hybrid scooter is touted to deliver a fuel efficiency figure of around 100 Kmpl. The high fuel efficiency figure is based on a series-hybrid system that uses a single cylinder, four stroke petrol engine as a generator. This generator will charge the battery stack of the scooter that will in turn power the electric motor used as a means of propulsion. This method of propulsion delivers high fuel efficiency and low tail pipe emissions.

Source DealerNews 

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