Hero MotoCorp has decided to halt operations temporarily at all of its manufacturing facilities across the country, including its Global Parts Center (GPC), in view of the rapid spread of Covid-19 across the country.

The company will utilise these days to carry out necessary maintenance work at the plants.

The shutdown will not impact the company’s ability to fulfil its orders. Demand has been low because of the localised lockdowns in many states and production loss will be compensated during the remainder of the quarter.

All plants will resume normal operations after this period. Each plant and Global Parts Center will remain shut for four days in a staggered manner between April 22 and May 1.

All corporate offices of the company are already in a work from home mode.

Maruti Suzuki

Maruti Suzuki India Limited has transported over 7.2 lakh vehicles using Indian Railways in the past five years. In 2020-21, more than 1.8 lakh vehicles took the rail route for transportation, the highest-ever railway despatch by the company, against nearly 88,000 units in 2016-17.

The company has been increasing the use of railways for its vehicle transportation. The transportation by rail exceeded 1.8 lakh in 2020-21, which accounts for nearly 13 per cent of total sales in the same period.

Kenichi Ayukawa, managing director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The transportation of finished vehicles via railways has many tangible benefits. It is a clean, environment friendly mode of transportation. It reduces congestion on highways.”

The company at first used single deck converted rakes. The operations started with the use of railway wagons (converted from old passenger coaches). These single deck wagons had a rake capacity to transport 125 cars.

Bajaj Pulsar

Bajaj Auto has launched the Pulsar NS 125 in India. The Pulsar NS 125 is an addition to the Pulsar ‘NS’ range of motorcycles. The Pulsar NS125 is powered by a 125cc BS6 DTS-i engine.