Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman – Hero MotoCorp Presents Modified Harley-Davidson Road King to a Specially-Abled Employee
Chitra Zutshi, Deputy Manager at Hero MotoCorp has been paraplegic since birth. And, she has dreamt of owning and riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, against all odds, for at least as long.
It was this dream that led Chitra to enter the “World’s Best Job” contest that Hero MotoCorp launched in October 2022, for a brand manager’s position in its Harley-Davidson Business Unit as the ultimate prize.
Chitra’s never-say-die spirit ensured that she made it through to the final 13 contestants. Only three tasks stood between her and her goal, one of them being a motorcycle riding skills challenge. For understandable reasons, Chitra could not participate in that test, and although she did get to ride pillion, the experience of gripping a chrome-laden handlebar and controlling her own ride, was incomplete.
The team at Hero MotoCorp was now faced with an irresistible challenge. In keeping with its Mission to “Create, Collaborate & Inspire”, the team at Hero MotoCorp then came up with the idea of doing everything possible to enable Chitra to realise her dream. Rajputana Customs helped the team to customize a Harley-Davidson Road King. The solution was to mount two auxiliary wheels at the rear to stabilize the ride, rendering it fit for Chitra’s special requirements.
At an event at Hero’s Global Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Hero MotoCorp presented Chitra with her very own purpose-built Harley-Davidson Road King. As he handed over the keys, a visibly moved Dr. Munjal called Chitra “an inspiration to us all”, and promised her that he would one day ride pillion with her.
Under the supervision of an expert and for a safer riding experience, Chitra was provided with a rider’s training of control units which were to be operated by hands. She also learnt to keep her vehicle under control calmly and skillfully in unexpected situations. She piloted the Harley-Davidson Road King herself on the testing track at CIT, in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Ravi Avalur, Head – Harley-Davidson Business Unit, Hero MotoCorp, said, “Hero MotoCorp and Harley-Davidson believe in making dreams come true. This is not a convenient corporate statement; it is a fact. It was Chitra’s lifelong aspiration to ride a Harley Davidson solo and we are delighted that we could present her with a customised Harley Davidson Road King that will allow her to live her dream. Our riders are at the heart of everything we do, and seeing this heroic young woman ride the motorcycle has motivated us to continue in our endeavor to fulfill dreams of personal freedom.”
Freedom on Wheels – https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=l26ngbUaNtE
The Harley-Davidson Road King is a special touring motorcycle with a 1745 CC engine which offers a top end torque of 150 Nm. It comes equipped with a host of best in class features and gives the rider a sporty yet luxurious feel. The motorcycle is sold as a CBU in India.
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About Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
About Hero MotoCorp Ltd.
The New Delhi (India) headquartered Hero MotoCorp Ltd. is the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, in terms of unit volumes sold by a single company in a year — the coveted position it has held for the past 21 consecutive years. The Company has sold over 100 million motorcycles and scooters in cumulative sales since its inception. Hero MotoCorp currently sells its products in more than 43 countries across Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Latin America. Hero MotoCorp has eight state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, including six in India, and one each in Colombia and Bangladesh. It has two world-class, state-of-the-art R&D facilities — the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in India and Tech Centre Germany (TCG) near Munich. Hero MotoCorp is the exclusive distributor of Harley-Davidson in India. Hero MotoCorp is one of the largest corporate promoters of multiple disciplines of sports, including, Golf, Football, Field Hockey, Cricket and Motorsports. Fifteen-time Major winner Tiger Woods is Hero’s Global Corporate Partner. Hero MotoCorp is also the exclusive distributor for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories in India.
