Hero Electric and Hero MotoCorp seem to be on a course to battle it out in court over the use of the Hero brand for their electric vehicle (EV) businesses. Vijay Munjal, along with his son Naveen Munjal, owns Hero Electric, India's largest electric two-wheeler company, and has been in the EV business for over 15 years. Now, Hero Electric's owners have moved the Delhi High Court against Pawan Munjal, promoter and chairman of Hero MotoCorp, claiming exclusive use of the Hero brand for EVs. The issue is over Hero MotoCorp planning to also use the Hero brand name for its upcoming EV range.
Also Read: Hero MotoCorp Trademarks Vida Name For EV Vertical
Hero MotoCorp has trademarked the VIDA name, possibly for its new range of electric two-wheelers. Hero MotoCorp teased its upcoming electric scooter at the company's 10th anniversary celebrations.
With Hero MotoCorp planning to launch its own EV range in March this year, Hero Electric is seeking legal help, claiming exclusive use of the Hero brand name in the EV space. Hero MotoCorp is planning to enter the electric two-wheeler space, possibly under a new sub-brand called Vida. The issue is that Hero MotoCorp intends to use the Hero brand name for its line of electric two-wheelers as well.
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Naveen Munjal, Managing Director, Hero Electric intends to keep EV rights for the Hero brand with his company. Hero Electric is India's largest electric two-wheeler company with 36 per cent market share.
Under a family agreement in 2010, which simplified the Hero businesses, Pawan Munjal, who was given Hero MotoCorp, is barred from using the 'Hero' brand name for any electric two-, three-, or four-wheelers. Under that agreement, the global rights for Hero Electric are with Pawan Munjal's cousin, Vinay Munjal, and his son Naveen Munjal. Hero Electric owns 36 per cent market share in the Indian electric two-wheeler segment and sold over 65,000 electric two-wheelers in 2021. The understanding is that Hero Electric owns all rights to EVs with the Hero brand, and as such, Hero MotoCorp will not be able to use the 'Hero' brand name for any EV business.
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So far, there has been no comment from either Hero Electric or Hero MotoCorp. When contacted, a spokesperson for Hero MotoCorp said that the matter is sub-judice, and even Hero Electric has refused to comment on the issue. The dispute is already before the Delhi High Court, and one of the options considered by the two Munjal family factions is arbitration and settlement, rather than a trademark infringement legal battle. .
