Best of the best award. And not just that, earning the Platinum distinction at the iF Design Awards, this product reflects our dedication to shaping sustainable mobility, which is going to benefit generations to come. Hero MotoCorp's excellence extends beyond technology to our achievements in sports. And I'm really thrilled to announce that Ross Branch, I'm sure many of you have heard of Ross Branch, one of our Hero Motorsports rally riders, recently secured second place in the 2024 Dakar Rally, the world's most challenging rally. Not just that, Ross was also crowned the FIM World Champion. This recognition is more than just a testament to our racing prowess; it showcases the durability, innovation, and engineering excellence that go into every Hero motorcycle. Our victories on the toughest tracks in the world reflect the reliability and strength of our machines, inspiring confidence in every rider who chooses Hero. It is with great pleasure that I now welcome our FIM World Champion, Ross Branch, to join me here.
So once again, my heartiest congratulations to you, Ross. How are you feeling now? You look nervous.
Thank you very much, Dr. Munjal. It's been an amazing journey. You know, it's been a long journey and a great successful year for us. The Hero 450 Rally has been unbelievable this year, and I'm really, really proud to be part of such a fantastic team.
Well, let's talk of the bike, the 450 Hero Rally bike that you've been riding. You will have the privilege to run the number one race plate from Dakar 2025. And we know the bike is around here somewhere.
Today it is indeed, and it's a great honor for me. It's a dream come true. It's something that I've always really wanted to do, is to ride with the number one, and finally that dream has come true. And I'm really, really excited to see what we're going to see shortly.
And I believe it's not just the bike which is here, even your wife is here.
Yes, you know, my number one supporter for sure, she's here. And you know, it's been a long journey for both of us, but like I said, it's a dream come true for us as a family. And for us to be part of such a great, incredible team, it's really, really a privilege. And I'm really proud to be a part of a team.
So what do you think? Is the bike smashing? Is it awesome? What is it?
I think the words are unbelievable. You know, the bike is already incredible, so we've got to take it a level up, and it's unbelievable. I'm really happy with how everything's going. It's an amazing piece of machinery to ride. A lot of hard work and effort's gone into it, hours and hours and hours of riding the bike and getting everything to perfection has been done. And yeah, I'm really excited to see it.
FIM Champion, second place at Dakar 2024, what's next?
You know, we still got a goal, and that's to win Dakar 2025. So the team has been working incredibly hard, you know, not only from our racing team but everybody, from India to Europe to Germany. Everybody's put in so much hard work and dedication. Everybody's really motivated to take it to the next level. I think, you know, we may be a small team, but we've definitely got big goals and big ambitions. And without the team, none of this would have been possible. So I've really got to take my hat off to the entire team in India and in Germany. Everybody's worked tirelessly and given us a machine that we can use to go out there and win. You know, we've been fighting against some of the biggest teams in history, and finally we've gotten to the position where we can show that we are a force to be reckoned with. And we're out there to win, and we're going to give it our best shot to do that. And me personally, I'd just like to thank the entire team. They've done all the hard work and long hours to get us where we need to be.
Thank the team, thank Hero MotoCorp. What about me?
Well, so we've been waiting for this moment. Obviously, I haven't been able to see you personally since we won the World Championship. But from myself, the rest of the team, all the other riders, we'd really like to thank you for everything you've done for us as a team in motorsport and just believing in our dream. I think one thing we can say about Hero is it's not just a company, it's a family. And I think all of us can say that. And on behalf of all of us riders, I'd really like to thank you for your continued support, all the effort you put in personally to us, and all the phone calls before each and every race. We really appreciate it; it goes a really long way. And we're really proud to represent yourself, your family, and the brand, obviously. So a huge, huge thank you to you, sir.
Thank you. I see many familiar faces here this afternoon, and I'm sure all of you know my passion around innovation, around sustainability, and very importantly around sports. I've been pushing boundaries and limits not just around technology but around sports too. And here we have the results from Ross Branch and the rest of the team. Seven years old, the rally team of Hero is seven years old at Dakar, and to get to second place, I think we need a big round of applause. Thank you very much, Ross. Thank you very much, and all the very best. Thank you.
So as we move forward, I'm really excited to unveil this year's lineup of our very innovative products. But before we begin, I'm thrilled to introduce something truly unique to all of you. Some of you would have noticed this unique event happening here, the Robo Milling. Please get to work. For the first time at an international expo, we are showcasing this advanced precision milling machine live that is going to create a sculpture in real time, offering a one-of-a-kind demonstration of precision engineering and artistry in action. In a couple of days, over the next few days before EICMA closes, you all will see a masterpiece being created and revealed of a very, very exciting and upcoming product in this very room here. As we wait for the Robo Milling sculpture to take shape, I'm also excited to share some more thrilling news. Hero will very soon be launching its operations in the United Kingdom and across Europe, led by our electric vehicle brand VIDA. This expansion will also feature an impressive range of motorcycles designed specifically with European riders in mind. It's a privilege to present to you our latest product for the European market, the VIDA Z. This model has been meticulously designed to resonate with European customers, embodying the essence of Hero's engineering and sustainability vision. Let's now unveil the VIDA Z.
Friends, thank you very much for your time with me. I now invite my colleagues Nanjan, Sanjay, and Swadesh to walk you through the other innovative products we have planned as we embark on this new journey into Europe. Thank you.
Good afternoon and namaskar. Sustainability has been intrinsic to our operations at Hero, and you just saw VIDA is a manifestation of these beliefs. And before we get into more details about our plans around UK and Europe, why don't we talk a little bit more about this fancy product, VIDA Z? Swadesh.
Good afternoon everyone, thanks, Nanjan. Yes, VIDA Z is a product for the global audience. As you heard, it's going to resonate from Barcelona to Bogota due to its rich features and styling. Despite its recent origin, VIDA has made rapid strides in the launch market India by investing consistently in building a very robust EV ecosystem. VIDA is currently present in more than 230 cities in India with total 400 and more sales points, 500 and more service points, and a huge network of 2,500 fast charging points.
Indeed, Swadesh, it has been a very rapid growth journey for VIDA. And now with VIDA Z, we are all set to expand the brand outside India. Tell us a little more about it.
Yes, we understand that an electric scooter is not just a mode of daily commute but also an expression of freedom, excitement, and joy. VIDA Z is built for urban commuting, smart utility, and modularity, and it has loads of new-age tech features. It has a simple, harmonious design with a distinctive silhouette, while it also has several elements suitable for personalization. In short, VIDA Z's design philosophy is to celebrate fun and functional.
Yes, of course, EVs are, as we know, growing in popularity across the world for a variety of reasons. And we understand the philosophy and vision of VIDA Z. But what about its features? I'm sure our audience here wants to know more about the features.
Let me talk about that. The VIDA Z can accommodate a range of battery capacities suitable for different uses. These removable batteries have been a huge success in India, and I'm pretty sure for global users it will come as a big benefit to help them get rid of their range anxiety. It has multiple modes of charging, so you have the power to charge it anywhere, anytime, wherever you go, with home, office, or anywhere. It also is going to come with a full connectivity suite, which will allow owners to monitor their vehicle's health, benefit from navigation, geofencing, OTA updates, and much more. VIDA Z also comes with a state-of-the-art permanent magnet synchronous motor, it's also called PMSM drivetrain, which offers the best combination of performance, efficiency, and serviceability.
Indeed, you're right, such exciting features. And VIDA Z makes an impression with its global design, modern technology, and superior architecture. We'll get into more details of this product as we get closer to market entry. But this is not the only thing that we are talking about, correct? You're working on many more things for this.
Absolutely, thanks for asking that, Nanjan. At VIDA, our purpose is to lead the electric mobility transformation for the globe and create new product categories to address various types of use cases. We showcased two unique, pathbreaking concepts last year here at EICMA called the Lynx and Acro. An advanced prototype of Lynx, our lightweight off-road electric bike, has been under testing across the world with our best riders and racers from our world championship team you just met. The proprietary frame technology has enabled us to have short wheelbase and lightweight while still allowing removable battery. Acro is also going to be ready very soon; you can see it over there. It's going to be the electric bike which will allow kids to learn and love safe riding at a young age and let them venture out for adventure with adults. It is going to grow with them as their skills grow with the kids. Now we are one step closer to bringing them to you. Stay tuned and visit our VIDA Zone after the press conference.
Thank you so much. Thanks, Swadesh.
Yes, what's up? Swadesh gets a break and you get in.
Yeah, I know, he just left us with five minutes to go. So, I think I speak for everyone when I say that they're eager to see what's under these covers.
Well, that's a big surprise, but not for long. And you won't be disappointed. Anyone out here wouldn't be disappointed with what we have come up with. In fact, our engineers at our R&D centers back in India and in Germany have put their heart and soul in developing something based on the expertise, like Ross was mentioning earlier, from the Hero Motorsports team. The first offering is actually all the learning that we've captured during our Dakar adventures and put that in place to build something absolutely distinctive and unique. I'm sure all of us will be surprised.
Fantastic. So let's get it ready to experience the Xpulse 210, a bike which is designed to empower your freedom spirit.
Wow, it's even more impressive in person than what we talked about.
Absolutely stunning and breathtaking. I think, you know, it's there for everyone to have a look at it. It's an amazing piece. It's a masterpiece, actually.
