The latest buzz in the Indian motorcycle industry is that Harley Davidson is coming to India by 2010. Harley Davidson price may start from around 4 Lacs, 14 lacs approx being the top end bike.
Here is a direct quote from DWS Auto Blog:
Harley Davidson does not have any presence in the Indian market so far. The company is planning to enter India through the CBU (completely built up) route. Since such imported bikes attract a 60% import duty, the price of Harley Davidson bikes in India would be in the range of Rs 4 lakh to Rs 14 lakh. Harley Davidson has no plans to start production in India. The company wants to keep its production in the US, since Harley Davidson is essentially an American nostalgia bike brand.
According to Harley Davidson vice-president Timothy Hoelter who visited India in September 2005, “India is among the few motorcycle markets in the world that’s growing at a fast pace and we are surely looking at a presence here. Whenever we enter the Indian market, it will be through the sourcing route. Harley Davidson buyers identify our bikes to be an all-American brand and they want to buy the bikes that are produced in US.”
According to the news, Harley Davidson Sportster 883 may be the India’s lowest priced Harley.
Harley-Davidson took almost 2 years to plan the launch of its brand retail outlets in the Indian subcontinent. And finally they are close to launching, nearly 2 years after receiving the import license for the Indian market.
The Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer, which is enjoying a robust growth in international market apart from its domestic circle, will now be launching an array of its models in India apart from setting an assembly unit.
India’s ministry of shipping, road transportation and highways had earlier rejected Harley Davidson’s proposal to come to India saying that India lacked prescribed emission norms for motorcycles with an engine capacity more than 500cc. Although, after that, many bikes have been allowed imports which do have engine capacity above 500cc, which includes 1300cc Suzuki Hayabusa last November.
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