Remember Tata Nano? Hero's tiny two-seater electric car has an unexpected twist

Nano nostalgia

Remember the Tata Nano, India's tiny car that promised to change urban mobility? Hero MotoCorp could be exploring something even smaller! Its electric mobility brand Vida has developed the NEX 3, a futuristic two-seater electric micro-car designed for crowded city roads. Newly surfaced design patents suggest the company is still working on the concept. But will this unusual four-wheeler ever reach Indian showrooms?

Two-seat surprise

A car with just two seats and a footprint roughly one-fourth that of a conventional car! Hero's Vida NEX 3 features an unusual seating arrangement, with the driver in front and the passenger directly behind. Its futuristic pod-like design includes large windows and a single upward-opening gullwing door. Designed for short urban journeys and tight parking spaces, the concept raises an interesting question: could smaller cars offer a practical answer to India's traffic congestion?

Patent mystery

Hero MotoCorp has filed design registrations for its NEX 3 micro-electric car, offering a fresh glimpse of the company's ambitions beyond motorcycles and scooters. The patent images reveal a compact four-wheeler with LED lighting, prominent bumpers and a distinctive rear design. However, there is a major catch! A design patent does not guarantee production, and Hero has not confirmed a launch date, price or final specifications.

Folding madness

Hero's electric experiments are getting increasingly unusual! Under its Novus Labs initiative, the company has developed the NEX 1, a portable electric vehicle that folds into a compact object, and the NEX 2, a self-balancing electric three-wheeler. At EICMA 2026, Hero showcased working prototypes of both models. The NEX 1 offers a claimed 20-km range, while the NEX 2 targets more than 150 km. These concepts reveal how Hero is exploring mobility beyond conventional two-wheelers.

Launch suspense

Hero MotoCorp's tiny electric car could open an entirely new chapter for the Indian two-wheeler giant, but buyers should not expect an immediate launch! The NEX 3 was first showcased at EICMA 2025, and its recently surfaced design patents suggest continued development. Hero Chairman Pawan Munjal has previously said the company is exploring micro-mobility solutions without committing to entering the passenger-car market. For now, the two-seater remains a concept rather than a confirmed production model.