Hyosung Motors is a subsidiary of the
Korea-based Hyosung Group of Industries and was founded in 1978. The company
did not start by building its vehicles but instead, provided technical assistance
to other renowned brands. It is evinced by the agreement between Hyosung and
Suzuki in 1979.
However, the company grew
significantly in its early days. Due to its continuous expansion, it
established its first technical research institute in 1986. By 1987, the
company was building its motorcycles using in-house technology. By 1996,
Hyosung had produced more than a million motorcycles. In the next five years,
it managed to reach the two million mark as well. In the following years,
Hyosung began searching for local partners in numerous Asian and European
countries. It wanted to increase its global presence and strengthen its
existing dealer network. One example of this partnership was seen in India in
2004.
In 2004, Hyosung entered into a
partnership with Kinetic Motors to sell their premium. These bikes were the
Comet 250, the Aquila 250, and the GF 125 as CBU units. The partnership didn’t
last long as Kinetic exited the two-wheeler business selling off its assets to
Mahindra in 2008. This resulted in Hyosung’s brief hiatus from India.
In 2010, Hyosung announced its
comeback partnering with the newly-formed Garware Motors, part of the $400
million Garware Group. This time, the bikes were brought to India as CKD units
and were assembled, marketed, and sold by Garware Motors. Assembly took place at Garware Motors’ new
assembly unit in Wai, Maharashtra.
After the brand’s India comeback in
2011, the first Hyosung models – the GT650R and the ST7 – were launched.
However, Garware sold its Hyosung business to the Pune-based DSK Group in 2012,
for being unable to maintain the partnership. From this point forward, DSK
Motowheels Private Limited took charge of assembling and retailing Hyosung
bikes in India. The brand name also changed to DSK-Hyosung. The first new model
to hit the showrooms from the DSK-Hyosung stable was the GT250R, launched in
June 2012. It became the brand’s entry-level sports bike.
The
range of Hyosung bikes, ever sold in India, consists of the Aquila GV250, the GT250R,
the GT650R, and the Aquila Pro650, among others.
