The first plant outside the US was opened in Brazil, FWIW. Basically, H-D wants to reach the Indian market, the second-largest market for motorcycles after China. Import taxes make Harleys prohibitively expensive, so by assembling the bikes in India they avoid the extra tax - makes sense from a business standpoint. The components will be made in the USA, but put together in motorcycle form in India - it'll be the same Harley Davidson bike available from Milwaukee, only assembled in Haryana.Harley-Davidson, the iconic American motorcycle brand with a cult-like following, has announced it has chosen to build its second assembly plant ever outside the United States in India.
The "complete knock down" plant or CKD is expected to be up and running in the northern Indian state of Haryana in first half of 2011. Parts made in America will be put together for the Indian market in Haryana.
Time will tell if it's a savvy business move or not. There's the danger that the iconic status of HD - which has allowed it to sell 1940s designs in 2010 - will be diluted as the brand reaches out to a worldwide audience; on the other hand, it's nice to see the company looking forward to new markets for expansion and growth. Harley Owners Groups flourish in many countries outside the US - the brand is known throughout the world - so it's not like the company is unknown.
With the move, we'll see one of the most unlikely pairings - the legendary V-twin rumble and the Taj Mahal...
That is all.
Link sent by my leatherclad bro PISSED. BTW, the title is "Live to Ride, Ride to Live" in Hindi...
5 comments:
Hmmm, Harley sells 1940s designs in 2010 and that's odd. Don't tell them about the 1911.
sv
Jay,
Places like Japan issue cycle licenses based on displacement. Getting an over-400cc license in Japan is darned next to impossible . . . you'd have an easier time getting an unrestricted LTC-A in Meninostan. This is one of the reasons why HD's don't sell many copies in Japan - even the smallest is well over the 400cc mark. Do you know if India has displacement-based cycle licensing? Hopefully someone at HD thought of this BEFORE committing to build an assembly plant.
- Brad
which has allowed it to sell 1940s designs in 2010 -
India would be perfect then--Harley will be competing Royal Enfield, still sellling 1940's designs...
No idea if it's a good idea for Harley, but knockdown assembly is pretty common.
The Mercedes Sprinter van (recently the Freightliner and/or Dodge Sprinter) is assembled from German assemblies in the US to get around stupid tariffs as well.
Wait where do they make the Indian Motorcycles. *yuck Yuck*
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