BLM
Industrialist

Brijmohan Lall Munjal

Born 25 November 1923 · Pakistan — Died 1 November 2015

Founded Hero Group, which became the world's largest manufacturer of two-wheelers.

Brijmohan Lall Munjal was an Indian entrepreneur and the founder of Hero Group.

A detail that
surprised us

In 1986, Hero Cycles entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest bicycle company, a title rare for an Indian firm at the time.

The Story

1. 🚲 In 1944, Brijmohan Lall Munjal moved from Kamalia (now in Pakistan) to Amritsar with his three brothers and started a humble bicycle parts business that laid the foundation for Hero Cycles in 1954 in Ludhiana. 2. In 1956, Hero Cycles secured a government license for bicycle manufacturing with Rs 6 lakh support, launching an annual capacity of 7,500 cycles that skyrocketed by 1975 to India’s largest bicycle company. 3. 🏆 By 1986, Hero Cycles earned a Guinness World Record as the largest bicycle manufacturer globally, marking a rare industrial milestone for an Indian company of that era. 4. In 1984, Munjal signed a landmark joint venture with Japan’s Honda, and by 1985 Hero Honda launched the CD 100 motorcycle, a model that would sell over 8.6 million units by 2002. 5. 🌍 Hero MotoCorp, the post-2011 incarnation after Honda's exit, expanded to nearly 50 countries with eight manufacturing plants, including outside India—in Colombia and Bangladesh—cementing its global reach. 6. 🏅 Munjal received the Padma Bhushan in 2005 and numerous business leadership awards, reflecting his role in shaping Indian industry governance and innovation. 7. ❓ How did a young man arriving with a bicycle parts business from undivided India transform a modest workshop into a global two-wheeler empire spanning continents and decades?

🏅 Awards & Honours

Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

In 1956, Hero Cycles started with a government-backed capital of just Rs 6 lakh and a modest production capacity of 7,500 cycles per year, a seed that grew into a world record-holding manufacturer by 1986.

📸 Through the Years

📷

No photos yet

Help preserve history — add a photo of this icon

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Kamalia, undivided India
Brijmohan Lall Munjal was born in Kamalia, now in Pakistan’s Punjab region, before Partition divided the territory.
1923
Career
Started bicycle parts business in Amritsar
At age 20, Munjal and his brothers began a bicycle parts business after migrating from Kamalia to Amritsar.
1944
Career
Founded Hero Cycles Limited in Ludhiana
Started manufacturing bicycle parts with a vision that would soon transform the Indian bicycle industry.
1954
Career
Received government license for bicycle manufacturing
Hero Cycles was granted a license and financial support of Rs 6 lakh to start full-scale bicycle production.
1956
Career
Signed JV with Honda for two-wheelers
Entered a partnership with Honda, leading to the launch of Hero Honda motorcycles and a new industrial era.
1984
🏅
Award
Hero Cycles enters Guinness Book
Recognized as the world’s largest bicycle company, a prestigious global record.
1986
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan by Government of India
Received one of India’s highest civilian honors for his contributions to industry and trade.
2005
Career
Hero Honda JV ended; renamed Hero MotoCorp
Hero Group exited the joint venture with Honda and rebranded, expanding export markets independently.
2011
🕊️
Death
Death of Brijmohan Lall Munjal
Passed away at age 92, leaving behind a vast industrial legacy.
2015
More moments to come...
+ Add a moment

🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Hero Honda’s CD 100 bike launched in 1985 sold over 8.6 million units by 2002, making it one of the most produced motorcycles in India’s history.

02 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Hero MotoCorp operates eight manufacturing facilities worldwide, including plants in Colombia and Bangladesh, showcasing a rare manufacturing footprint for an Indian-origin two-wheeler company.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 2005, Munjal was honored with the Padma Bhushan for industry and trade, recognizing his influence beyond business into national economic growth.

No quote recorded for Brijmohan Lall Munjal yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Brijmohan Lall Munjal, Indian industrialist, founder and patriarch of Hero MotoCorp
·YouTube
More from this archive
Brijmohan Lall Munjal, Indian industrialist, founder and patriarch of Hero MotoCorp
01
Brijmohan Lall Munjal, Indian industrialist, founder and patriarch of Hero MotoCorp
YouTube
Brijmohan Munjal, founder of Hero Moto Corp passes away
02
Brijmohan Munjal, founder of Hero Moto Corp passes away
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Brijmohan Lall Munjal transformed India's bicycle manufacturing landscape by pioneering large-scale production and later revolutionized the two-wheeler industry through the Hero Honda partnership. His leadership helped establish Hero MotoCorp as a dominant player globally with facilities across continents, impacting manufacturing standards and export policies. His governance and business ethics influenced Indian industrial practices and corporate social responsibility models.

💬 Social Buzz

💬

What are people saying about Brijmohan Lall Munjal?

Share posts from historians, journalists and notable voices about this icon. 🇮🇳

💭 Memories & Tributes

Share your memory of Brijmohan Lall Munjal...
Loading memories...
Is this profile accurate?