Harley-Davidson to Build Bikes in India

[Ming the Merciless]

Read the full story at: www.throttlehand.com





Harley-Davidson is moving forward with the launch of operations in India to assemble motorcycles for the Indian market from component kits supplied by its U.S. plants, the Company announced today. The Company expects the CKD (complete knock-down) assembly facility to be operational in the first half of 2011.

The announcement comes as President Barack Obama prepares to travel to India on a state visit focused on trade and business opportunities between the two countries.

“CKD assembly operations in India are a natural next step for Harley-Davidson as we build our brand presence around the world,” said Harley-Davidson Motor Company President and Chief Operating Officer Matthew S. Levatich. “This investment will allow us to improve our market responsiveness and production flexibility while reducing the tariff burden, which we expect will drive growth over time by making our bikes more accessible to India’s consumers. Given the strong response we have received in the initial months of retail operations, we believe this is the right investment for this important market,” Levatich said.

To date, Harley-Davidson India has been importing completely assembled motorcycles from the Company’s U.S. final assembly plants. Once the Indian CKD assembly facility in the Indian State of Haryana is operational, Harley-Davidson India will import CKD kits for select current models, consisting of components produced by Harley-Davidson’s U.S. plants in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Missouri and by the company’s suppliers. Indian employees at the Haryana facility will then assemble the components into finished motorcycles. Other models will continue to be imported as completely built motorcycles for now.

India will be the second country in which Harley-Davidson has CKD assembly operations outside the U.S., after Brazil where the Company began assembly operations in 1999.

“We are committed to global growth and growth in India for the long term,” said Levatich. “India’s rapidly growing economy, rising middle class and significant investment in construction of new roads and highways are paving the way for leisure motorcycle riding.”

“We are building a strong foundation for our business in India, first by establishing a world-class dealer network, and now by commencing CKD assembly operations” said Anoop Prakash, Managing Director for Harley-Davidson India. “It is important for us to continue to invest in strategies that make our products and experiences accessible to an increasingly broader set of customers across India.”

Harley-Davidson India commenced operations in August 2009 and opened its first dealership in July 2010. The Company currently offers 12 models in its 2010 line-up in India, available through authorized dealerships in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Hyderabad. For more information, visit the Harley-Davidson India web site at Harley-Davidson India - Home.

[Brigg]

Judging by the quality of my 07 Sportster I thought it was built on the sub continent anyway...

Some of it seems to be made out of tin cans beaten on a roadside kerb by a 10 year old

Shame there is no pricing on the HD India site, that would be interesting...

[BaZa®]

Originally Posted by Brigg

Judging by the quality of my 07 Sportster I thought it was built on the sub continent anyway...

Some of it seems to be made out of tin cans beaten on a roadside kerb by a 10 year old

Shame there is no pricing on the HD India site, that would be interesting...

From here

While a number of recent news stories have shown growing markets for motorcycles in China and India, the domestic U.S. market for Harley Davidson is still sluggish. Harley has just begun taking orders for motorcycles in India, where even a Nightster, due to tariffs, goes for over $22,000 compared to under $10,000 in the U.S. It makes you wonder, what a Sportster produced over there would cost. No one has openly suggested that option, at least no one I'm aware of, but it's probably in the minds of more than a few.

Link: Associated Press
Related: Wall Street Journal

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

How embarrassing for the Managing Director of Harley India.


Harley-Davidson India Managing Director Anoop Prakash falls off his bike as other riders look on during 'The Founders Ride' in Bangalore, India, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.

The legendary U.S. motorcycle makers organized the ride to celebrate the announcement of brand's arrival in India and are expected to start selling the products from early 2010.

[kevscrivener]

Nice to see that the Americans are following where us Brits have been pioneering for years; sending outdated designs over to India to be cheaply made as modern "classics".........






Just out of interest, Brigg, Indian build quality isn't all bad; my little Hyundai i10 was made there, might be a cheap car but it's well put together!

[Brigg]

Originally Posted by kevscrivener

Nice to see that the Americans are following where us Brits have been pioneering for years; sending outdated designs over to India to be cheaply made as modern "classics".........






Just out of interest, Brigg, Indian build quality isn't all bad; my little Hyundai i10 was made there, might be a cheap car but it's well put together!

The reason for the built qualityn of your Hyundai is that there is a South Korean work ethic supporting the workers.... My Nephew has the little coupe and its a neat little car a long way from the old 'Pony'

[Paul P.]

So could Harley make a market dedicated special edition and call it "the Indian"? (or, as in "Indian Enfield", Indian Harley?) hey,! India could pay H-D in Bullet singles! Even more bizarre, post WW2 Indian use to sell Royal Enfields as Indians in USA (including Constellations as "700 Chiefs"). Bet we are all thinking "how long before they are fully made there".

[nutah]

always makes me laugh , when buying genuine spares the country it was made in is rarely the USA

[BaZa®]

Originally Posted by Ming the Merciless

Harley-Davidson is moving forward with the launch of operations in India to assemble motorcycles for the Indian market from component kits supplied by its U.S. plants, the Company announced today. The Company expects the CKD (complete knock-down) assembly facility to be operational in the first half of 2011.

They bought this forward a bit!

BBC News - First Indian-built Harley-Davidsons ready to roar
First Indian-built Harley-Davidsons ready to roar



Easy rider: Harley says the Indian-built bikes are characterised by their comfort
Continue reading the main story
The first Harley-Davidson motorbikes to be built in India are about to go on sale.
The SuperLow and the Iron 883 models have been assembled at a new factory in the northern state of Haryana.
Costing from 550,000 rupees ($12,100; £7,700) to 650,000 rupees, they will be available on 1 January.
The US firm has imported bikes ready-made until now, but higher taxes mean these are more expensive than importing models which can be assembled in India.
A Harley spokesman said that the new factory in the town of Bawal builds the motorbikes mostly from kits produced by the company's factories in the US states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Missouri.
The company began its India operations in August 2009 and sells 12 models of motorcycle, including the Fat Boy, Roadster and Road King.
India is considered to be one of the world's fastest growing two-wheeler markets.
Correspondents say that while luxury bikes are in rising demand, riding them in many parts of India represents a major challenge.
The country has one of the worst road safety records in the world, with more than 100,000 being killed every year in accidents.