Hero, recognized as the second-largest motorcycle manufacturer globally, although often unknown to the Brazilian public, has announced plans to establish operations in the country. The Indian company produces a volume of motorcycles exceeding the total registered in the Brazilian market over three years, reaching 6.25 million units in 2025, trailing only Honda.
Despite its large production volume, Hero lacks stores in Brazil and easily recognizable models for consumers, leading it to be considered possibly the largest 'anonymous' manufacturer on the planet. Sales figures vary slightly depending on the source, with compilations from Motorcycles Data indicating 5.9 million units in 2025, compared to 20.2 million from Honda, while other surveys reach 6.1 million.
Historically, Hero's anonymity dates back to its creation in January 1984 as Hero Honda Motors, a partnership between the Indian Hero Cycles and Honda. The first model, the CD 100, was launched in 1985, and the Splendor consolidated the brand in 1994, becoming the best-selling two-wheeler globally in 2000.
For over two decades, Hero expanded by marketing Japanese projects under its Indian brand. Since 2001, the company has positioned itself as the largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters by volume, although this classification depends on the counting methodology, coexisting with Honda's leadership in global rankings.
The relationship with Honda ended at the end of 2010 when the Japanese automaker sold its 26% stake to the Munjal family for over 6.4 thousand crore rupees. This disagreement resulted from the Japanese reluctance to widely share technology and the dissatisfaction of the Indian partner with royalty costs.
In 2011, the company was renamed Hero MotoCorp and had to prove its autonomy. The first model without Honda technology was the Impulse, launched that same year, followed by the Splendor iSmart 110 in 2016, fully developed in-house. In 2022, Vida, the brand's electric division, was established.
Currently, Hero's strategy combines proprietary development with strategic collaborations. The company maintains agreements with Harley-Davidson and Zero Motorcycles and holds a stake in Ather Energy, where it invested in 2016. Furthermore, it has Research and Development centers and a Technical Center in Germany, responsible for developing models such as the Mavrick 440 and the Xtreme 125R.
Hero's operation covers eight factories—five in India and others in Bangladesh, Colombia, and Kenya—operating in nearly 50 countries. Most of its sales volume comes from the domestic Indian market, where it dominates low displacement. This demonstrates that, despite being a giant in volume, its presence outside India lacks the brand recognition or after-sales network of Honda.
In this scenario of international expansion, Brazil emerged as a focus of interest. In August 2024, the company informed shareholders of its intention to operate in the national market. Subsequently, in May 2025, brand representatives presented a project for a factory in the Manaus Free Trade Zone (Suframa) to the Superintendency of the Manaus Free Trade Zone, intended initially for producing electric and combustion models for the domestic market.
The choice of Manaus aims to leverage the tax incentives offered by the Free Trade Zone, a path already taken by other manufacturers. The bureaucratic process has advanced significantly: Hero has had a registered CNPJ in Brazil since April 2025 and obtained approval to produce in Manaus at the 321st meeting of the Suframa Board of Directors, in early December. This authorization covers mopeds and motorcycles with engine capacities between 100 cm³ and 450 cm³.
The projected production capacity is approximately 7,000 units in the first year, 12,000 in the second, and 28,000 in the third. For comparison, Brazil registered 2.19 million registrations in 2025, a historical record with a 17.1% increase compared to 2024, according to Abraciclo data. The 28,000 motorcycles planned for the third year represent just over 1% of this total volume.
Although Hero has not disclosed the exact line that will be launched in Manaus, the up to 450 cm³ range is the only confirmed detail. The portal MOTOO suggests the Mavrick 440 and XPulse 210 as potential highlights. The Xpulse 210, with a 210 cm³ DOHC four-valve liquid-cooled engine, offers 24.6 hp at 9,250 rpm and features a six-speed gearbox with assisted and slipper clutch. This model arrived in the Indian market in January 2025, based on the Karizma XMR 210.
Meanwhile, the Mavrick 440, equipped with a 440 cm³ two-valve SOHC air and oil-cooled single-cylinder engine, generates 27.3 hp at 6,000 rpm. Its powertrain is the TorqX, identical to that used in the Harley-Davidson X440. With a weight of 191 kg and a 13.5-liter tank, this model would be the top of the permitted range in Manaus and a direct response to Royal Enfield's 350 cm³ models. Suframa predicted the start of production for early 2026, but Hero has not yet provided an official date.
