Established in 1985, in technical and financial collaboration with Showa Corporation of Japan, the pioneering global leaders in the manufacture of shock absorbers, Munjal Showa Limited is a member of Hero Group, a US $ 1.3 billion manufacturing conglomerate, with a 45-year history. The Hero Group, a major player in the manufacturing sector in India, comprises of 15 active companies with complete backward integration for automotive manufacturing. Prime companies in the Group are: Hero Honda Motors Limited, a joint venture with Honda Motors of Japan, Hero Cycles, the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world, Majestic Auto Limited and Hero Puch, manufacturing mopeds and scooters.