Hero and Mahindra both looking to buy Hyosung

Like a perfectly set up deck of Dominoes, a string of the world’s foremost automotive brands has toppled before the Indian juggernaut in the last few years. And now, it seems like the latest two-wheeler manufacturer which is set to join the Indian bandwagon is Hyosung Motors. Bike India has just got hold of some inside-industry news which states that the Hero Group and the newly formed Mahindra 2 Wheelers are in negotiations to take over the Korean brand. Both the Indian conglomerates involved in this deal has got the money needed for such an enormous takeover but not the technology – Hero recently ended its twenty six year long association with Honda – and could benefit greatly if the deal comes through. Hyosung already has a sizable brand recall value in India, courtesy of its Comet 250 streetfighter and Aquila 250 cruiser that Kinetic brought here almost a decade back. More recently, it tied up with Garware Motors to launch the GT650 sportspike and ST7 cruiser in India.

Trust Bike India to keep you posted on further developments in this ongoing deal. For our full review on the GT650 sportsbike, pick up the March 2011 issue of Bike India magazine, on stands now.

Words: Saeed Akhtar