Brijmohan Lall Munjal - The Real Hero of India’s Two-Wheeler Industry

He played a pivotal role in placing Hero MotoCorp on the global stage under the two-wheeler segment of the automotive industry. Although the company started out as a bicycle component manufacturer, it rose to a global powerhouse through Munjal’s strong vigor and excellent business acumen.

He Made Hero MotorCorp the Largest Bicycle Maker

The origin story of Hero MotoCorp goes back to the bicycle spare parts business in Ludhiana from 1944 to 1950. A significant turning point was when the business received an industrial license from the Punjab government to manufacture bicycles in 1956. Under Brijmohan Lall Munjal’s leadership, the company became India’s largest bicycle producer.

Partnership with Honda Motor Co - From Bicycle to Motorcycles

Fast forward to 1984, Munjal led a transformative partnership with Hondo Motor Co, and the result was the iconic joint venture called HeroHonda. The mix of Honda’s technical expertise and Hero’s manufacturing expertise preceded the invention of the first Hero Honda motorcycle, the CD100, in 1985.

Iconic Two-Wheeler Among Indians

The following year saw Hero Honda produce one lakh motorcycles, eventually becoming the most familiar name or brand known by most citizens in the country.

This heightened Munjal’s esteem, accrediting him as a pioneer in the two-wheeler field.

 

In 2001, Brijmohan Lall Munjal passed the reigns to his second son, Pawan Munjal, naming him the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Hero Honda. The same year brought Hero Honda world-level recognition as the largest two-wheeler manufacturer for mass production, which is still proven by Hero MotoCorp today.

Global Expansion Dreams Came at the Cost of Hero MotorCorp Leaving Honda

In 2010, Pawan Munjal and his team aimed to expand Hero alone overseas to set up manufacturing facilities and sales networks in the international markets. However, the alliance with Honda made it challenging as Hero's presence already existed in countries It aimed to expand. A year later, the alliance was broken, leading to the establishment of Hero MotoCorp as a standalone two-wheeler manufacturing company. This new change exposed Hero MotoCorp to global markets, which helped the company diversify its product portfolio.

World’s Largest Two-Wheeler Manufacturer

Today, Hero MotoCorp still maintains its mark as the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer by volume, exporting its products to 29 countries, and has a valuation of over $ 4 billion. All these credits go to the man who brewed efforts at the company’s foundational ground, Brijmohan Lall Munjal. The government presented him with the Padma Bhushan in 2005, and he was also awarded the Forbes India Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2014. Thereafter, in 2015, the man left the world, leaving behind a legacy that stands tall in the global two-wheeler segment