Hero MotoCorp has filed a design patent in India for the Vida NEX 3, an ultra compact two seater electric four wheeler. First shown as a concept at the EICMA motor show in Milan in November 2025, the micro car is part of the company’s experimental Vida Novus mobility lineup. The newly surfaced Indian patent drawings highlight a large, upward opening wing style door and a narrow tandem seating cabin. While registering a design patent in India does not confirm that the vehicle will enter series production, it shows that the country’s largest two wheeler manufacturer is actively exploring its four wheeled concepts for the domestic market.
The Vida Novus Ecosystem and Why Two Wheeler Makers Are Eyeing Micro Cars
For most Indian commuters, the Vida badge is synonymous with electric scooters like the V2 and VX2, along with the recently unveiled UBX 06 and Project VXZ electric motorcycles. Under its Novus Labs initiative, however, Hero MotoCorp has been developing three unconventional urban mobility vehicles badged NEX 1, NEX 2, and NEX 3.
Each concept targets a different layer of city travel:
- Vida NEX 1: A portable, wearable personal electric mobility device that folds down to fit inside a backpack.
- Vida NEX 2: A compact, self balancing electric three wheeled trike that Hero showcased at EICMA 2026.
- Vida NEX 3: An enclosed, four wheeled electric micro car designed to give two wheeler riders full weather protection and four wheel stability without taking up the road space of a regular hatchback.
Hero is not the only two wheeler maker looking at this space. The NEX 3 patent surfaces shortly after Ola Electric registered a design patent for its own compact electric four wheeler built around 4680 battery cells. In crowded tier one cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi, daily riders face a tough choice between getting stuck in traffic inside a wide five seat car or braving sweltering summer heat, heavy monsoon rain, and winter smog on a scooter. A narrow electric micro car aims to bridge that gap.
Gullwing Door Engineering and Tandem Two Seat Packaging
The standout detail in the Vida NEX 3 patent filing is its single wing style door, which hinges upward toward the roof like a gullwing door rather than swinging outward. . Because the door lifts upward, the vehicle needs very little side clearance when parked in tight apartment slots, narrow market lanes, or crowded office bays. The wide door opening also uncovers most of the side profile, making it easier for both occupants to step in and out..
Instead of placing two seats side by side, the NEX 3 uses a tandem 1 plus 1 seating arrangement where the passenger sits directly behind the driver. This layout is similar to European urban quadricycles like the Renault Twizy and Mobilize Duo.
Exterior Styling and Cabin Layout
Hero refers to the NEX 3 as a micro SUV, and the patent drawings carry over the upright, pod shaped proportions of the EICMA concept. Up front, the nose features a V shaped grille structure flanked by vertically stacked headlamps set inside trapezoidal housings, while a full width LED light bar is expected to run across the leading edge of the bonnet.
Along the sides, the micro car rides on large, aero style alloy wheels wrapped in low profile tyres, framed by squared off flared wheel arches. A gently sloping roofline and a large rear side window help bring light into the second row so the rear passenger does not feel boxed in. At the back, the patent shows a hexagonal tailgate paired with a chunky rear bumper.
While Hero has not released an official feature list, a production version aimed at urban Indian buyers would likely require air conditioning, digital instrumentation, smartphone connectivity with turn by turn navigation, keyless entry, and a small rear luggage nook for office bags or daily groceries.
Powertrain Expectations and Where It Fits in India
Hero MotoCorp has not disclosed any technical specifications for the Vida NEX 3. Given its ultra compact footprint and quadricycle proportions, the vehicle is expected to use a small lithium ion battery pack tuned for city speeds of around 60 to 70 kilometers per hour and a real world range of roughly 100 to 150 kilometers per charge.
Conclusion (What SearchEV Thinks)
Filing a design patent in India does not mean the Vida NEX 3 will roll into showrooms next year, as automakers routinely register concept designs to protect their intellectual property. Right now, Vida’s immediate commercial focus is scaling up its electric scooters and preparing the UBX 06 and VXZ electric motorcycles for 2027. Still, the NEX 3 shows that Hero MotoCorp is seriously studying what comes after the traditional scooter in congested Indian metros. If Hero can engineer the NEX 3 with proper cabin air conditioning and price it between a premium electric scooter and the MG Comet EV, this gullwing two seater could carve out a smart niche among daily office commuters.
