Hero ropes in BMW's top designer to head R&D division

Next time you see a Hero bike that reminds youof BMW’s offerings, don’t be surprised. The world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp, has decided to rope intop automobile designer,Markus Braunsperger, from Germany’sBMWtohead its R&D division.

Braunsperger has been associated with the German auto major for over 25 years.He also designedthe company’s flagship sedans 5/6/7 series as well as SUVs X3, X5 and X7, reports Times of India.

A biking enthusiast himself, Braunsperger has beenheading the R&D function for BMW’s Motorcycle division for several years.

According to the ToI report, Braunsperger will join Hero in the first week of October. Hewill report to Hero vice chairman Pawan Munjal.

“He is the first expat appointed to head a division at Hero MotoCorp, and will spearhead the firm’s future product development initiatives,“ Hindustan Times quotes a senior official.

According to reports , Braunsperger will be appointed as the head of Hero’sresearch and development division coming up at Kukas near Jaipur.

Hero spent aboutRs 450-crore to build a new R& D centre in Rajasthan as part of its strategy to keep ahead of Japanese partner-turned rival Honda.

TheR&D centres at Gurgaon and Daruhera plants are also likely to beshifted to the R& D centre in Kukas once it becomes operational.

Munjal had earlier said that the centre would develop models for both domestic and international markets and the company is investing 2- 3 per cent of its revenues on research. Apart from the R&D centre, the firm is setting up a manufacturing plant and a global parts centre at Neemrana, both of which will start operations in the first quarter of 2014.

The company is also planning to enter Brazil by 2016 as it looks to consolidate position in the fast growing South American market.