Posts tagged Harley-Davidson India Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson ‘hogs’ ride into India
Jul 19th
Harley-Davidson is revving up to go full throttle on India’s famously potholed roads. Harley-Davidson has opened its first three dealerships and is planning to launch two more this year in the country of 1.2 billion people where motorcycles are far and away the most popular transport.
“We see this incredible motorcycling culture here that is waiting for this new category of heavyweight motorcycles,” Anoop Prakash, managing director of Harley-Davidson India, who fell in love with the bikes when he was a US marine.
Harley-Davidson also plans to set up Harley Owners Groups — famed in the United States for members riding and partying together while swapping biking tales.
Harley Davidson to open 3 new showrooms
Jul 11th
Harley Davidson will be opening 3 new dealers in India.
Banjara Harley Davidson on 9th July in Hyderabad, Himalayan Harley Davidson on 13th July in Chandigarh and Capital Harley Davidson in Delhi on the 14th July.
Harley Davidson opens India headquarters
May 7th
Iconic cult bike maker Harley Davidson opened its India headquarters at Gurgaon as the company looks to establish itself firmly in the country.
US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer was the guest of honour at the event. The company had started booking from April for 12 motorcycle models from its 2010 line up to be sold in India, priced between Rs 6.95 lakh and Rs 34.95 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi). It will start delivery of the motorcycles from June. More >
Harley-Davidson rides into India
Aug 31st
The Harley-Davidson finally launched bikes in India and fans of the cult bike can get their hands on the bike for a starting price about US$ 14,000 (or about Rs. 7 lakh) in the first half of next year.
After years of negotiations that even involved country to country exchanges – Harleys in India for desi mangoes in the US — the all-American bike has decided it couldn’t risk not being in India any longer.
The decision to enter Indian market had nothing to do with the current situation in the US, and falling sales that have called for “belt tightening” activities, said Mr Levatich President and COO, Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The Indian market was ripe, as proven by the existing international heavyweights that have outperformed their own estimates.
The company’s newly appointed Managing Director for India, Mr Anoop Prakash, said Harley-Davidson would be importing 12-15 models, representing each of its family of bikes as completely built units from the US.
According to Mr Levatich, the decision to set up a semi-knocked down or assembly unit in India would be taken depending on market demand. As a principle, the all-American brand would consider assembling outside the US market, only to meet local demand, and never to import the bikes back into the US.
Despite its wait, the current duty structure still means that when the bike leaves the showroom it will cost twice as much as it does in the US. Harley-Davidson is going to be choosy about dealers, picking those that can truly replicate the authentic Harley experience. But it is confident of competing with the Ducati, Suzuki and Yamaha.
Mr Prakash says the first few dealerships will be open by the first half of 2010. It is looking at five initially in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyundai Chandigarh and Ludhiana.
The Harley-Davidson bikes start at 883 cc going up to 1550cc. Lighter bikes, which promise to bring in the volumes, is an option that the company is considering. But it is the authentic experience that Harley lovers will be seeking anyway.
Merchandise and customisation, a strong Harley tradition, will be available too.
Source & Pictures: Hindu
