New Xtec gets a raft of first-in-segment features including Bluetooth connectivity. Will it give flagging sales of the Glamour brand a lift?
20 Jul 2021 | 12020 Views | By Ajit Dalvi
Motorcycle market leader Hero MotoCorp today launched the Glamour Xtec commuter bike, with prices starting at Rs 78,900 for the drum variant and Rs 83,500 for the disc variant. With demand from rural India, which is the mainstay for frugal commuter motorcycles in India, picking up the company is keen ...
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Motorcycle market leader Hero MotoCorp today launched the Glamour Xtec commuter bike, with prices starting at Rs 78,900 for the drum variant and Rs 83,500 for the disc variant. With demand from rural India, which is the mainstay for frugal commuter motorcycles in India, picking up the company is keen to drive demand for the Glamour.
Sales of the 16-year-old Glamour brand have been slowing down over the past couple of years.
As per Autocar Professional’s industry sales analytics, Hero Glamour sales have fallen from 755,027 units in FY2019 to 602,912 units in FY2020 (-20%) and then to 462,912 units in FY2021 (-23%). In the April-June 2021 period, a total of 49,699 units have been sold, down 27% year on year.
Hero MotoCorp clearly is betting big on the new Xtec model to add fresh glamour to the Glamour brand. And it has gone all out to pack the latest Hero in town and country with a raft of features.
Mechanically, the Xtec is powered by the same engine as on the regular Glamour. The 124.7cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine develops 10.87hp and 10.6Nm and also features Hero’s patented i3S engine stop-start system to enhance fuel efficiency.
A standout feature in the Xtec is the all-new fully-digital instrument cluster which delivers ample ride-specific information including gear position and fuel consumption data. Importantly, it features Bluetooth connectivity, which makes it the most affordable petrol-powered motorcycle in India with this tech. Expect the 125cc motorcycle competition to follow suit soon.
This is one of the many first-in-class features in the Xtec including turn-by-turn navigation, integrated USB charger along with side-stand engine cut off, bank angle sensor and LED headlamp.
Commenting on the company’s newest product, Malo Le Masson, Head of Strategy and Global Product Planning, Hero MotoCorp, said, “The new Glamour Xtec brings an ‘X’ factor to the segment, with first-in-class features like LED headlamp and turn-by-turn navigation through Bluetooth connectivity. It has the ideal combination of features that appeal to the youth. The Glamour Xtec caters to customers’ aspirations for technology, style and safety at a much more accessible price.”
In the first quarter of FY2021, Hero MotoCorp sold a total of 879,144 motorcycles, which gives it a 50% share of the bike market in India. In the 125cc bike segment, sibling Splendor (which has sold 85,711 units in Q1 FY2022).
will keep the Xtec Glamour company