Hero Group's planned foray into the small car segment seems to have hit a roadblock even before starting, with its reported foreign partner denying having any talks with the Munjals for the project."At this time, BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) is not having discussions with the Munjal group," Johanne Denault, communications & public affairs manager, BRP, said in an e-mail reply to a query on the reported talks between the two for developing a 500cc small car in India.However, when contacted, Pankaj Munjal, MD, Hero Motors, said the two were working together."We have a working relationship with BRP and we are working on engines and transmissions," Munjal said.Last week, a media report had said BRP and Hero Group were working on a project to develop a 500cc small car, possibly in association with BRP.Hero Group was reported to have been closely monitoring the Rs 1 lakh project by Tata Motors and learn from it and de-risk its own endeavour.Already, Pawan Munjal has said Hero Group was mulling a foray into the four-wheeler segment.His statement, however, was not taken too kindly by its joint venture partner Honda with its India chief M Takedagawa wondering if it would be a "three-wheeler with an extra tyre". Munjal had later responded by saying it would be a proper car. -PTI
