Bicycle maker Hero Cycles today announced plans to set up a high-tech global design centre in Europe with an objective of developing next generation bicycle design and technology.

The Global Design Centre, set to come up in Manchester, UK, is part of Hero Cycles’ ambitious global expansion plans.

The centre, which will invest heavily in innovation and design research to upgrade bicycle technology with a focus on the world market, is expected to start operations in the last quarter of the current financial year.

Addressing mediapersons here, Hero Cycles Ltd’s CMD Pankaj Munjal said, “We are setting on course for a major innovation and designing revolution at Hero Cycles by harnessing some of the best minds in the field through this Global Design Centre.

“Our team of designers will work relentlessly to improve technology, designs and quality of bicycles in all sorts of categories from mass consumption bikes to sports and luxury bikes.”

After having cemented our position as a pioneer and market leader in India, we are now actively looking for establishing and expanding presence across countries and continents, he said, while adding that the new design centre will help the company achieve this feat.

The centre will also help create a common brand identity, homogenise designs and build brands across Europe.

In 2015, Hero Cycles acquired a majority stake in the UK-based cycle distributor, Avocet Sports Ltd to enter the the high-value European cycle market.

Hero Cycles has major plans to expand its presence and penetration across Europe.

The centre will provide the critical designing, development, prototyping and testing back up for products which will then be manufactured in Hero Cycles’ manufacturing plants in India and Sri Lanka.

“We have already hired a few extremely renowned design experts from various nationalities to set the ball rolling at the centre. The designers have an experience of over 25 years in the field and promise to bring a deep understanding of design innovation with them,” Munjal added.

The centre, which will invest heavily in innovation and design research to upgrade bicycle technology with a focus on the world market, is expected to start operations in the last quarter of the current financial year.

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