Hero's Journey: 100 Million Two-Wheelers and the Road to AI

In the aftermath of India’s partition in 1947, the Munjal family was forced to leave everything behind in undivided Punjab and start over in Ludhiana, armed with little more than resilience and a dream. Out of that modest beginning, in 1956, four brothers - Dayanand, Satyanand, Brijmohan, and Om Prakash Munjal - founded Hero Cycles, selling and assembling bicycle parts in a small workshop. What began as a humble cycle spare business soon turned into a symbol of post-independence entrepreneurship. By the 1970s, Hero Cycles had become the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer, embodying India’s spirit of self-reliance. The group’s true turning point came in 1984, when Hero MotoCorp (then Hero Honda Motors) was formed in partnership with Honda Motor Co. of Japan, bringing the iconic “Fill it, Shut it, Forget it” motorcycles to Indian roads and redefining two-wheeler mobility for an emerging middle class. For over two decades, Hero Honda dominated India’s motorcycle market, producing fuel-efficient models like Splendor, Passion, and CD 100, and by the early 2000s, held more than 50% of the domestic two-wheeler market. After parting ways with Honda in 2011, the company reinvented itself as Hero MotoCorp, evolving into a global manufacturer exporting to over 40 countries.

Today, under the leadership of Dr. Pawan Munjal, Hero Group continues to transform - investing heavily in electric mobility, AI-driven connected devices, and smart home technology through its Qubo brand, which now commands a leading share in India’s emerging smart home segment. With revenue exceeding ₹37,000 crore ($4.4 billion) and more than 100 million two-wheelers sold to date, Hero MotoCorp stands as not just India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer but a testament to the power of reinvention. From cycle spares to AI-powered innovation, the Hero story mirrors India’s own journey - rebuilding, reimagining, and racing ahead into the future.