Harley-Davidson has already made its intent clear: India is a key market and the company will do whatever is necessary to get a high share of this growth market.
To take on its Japanese, Korean & India rivals Harley-Davidson intends to introduce a new motorcycle made exclusively for the country within the next two years. At the same time, Harley is expanding its network of dealers in the country. Currently, there are nine dealers but there will be four more by the end of 2013.
The company has seen rapid growth of its motorcycle business in India since entering the market back in 2009. The iconic motorcycle manufacturer reported sales of over 1,000 units in the country between July 2010 and the end of 2011. It now expects sales in 2012 to clock more than 2,000 units and targets a tenfold increase to 10,000 units by 2016. While Harley-Davidson still derives most of its sales from the U.S. and Europe, the percentage share of Asia and Latin America is growing contributing to 12% of its total sales in 2011 compared to 10.4% in the previous year..
Harley should do the same in the US. A bike for the hard working man who can’t spend 20K in a big cruiser.
All this means that Harley-Davidson doesn’t see any real growth potential in the US and Europe for the next 10 years. Sad.
We will slowly Americanize the world with a slow but steady supply of Levi’s, rock-n-roll, and Harley-Davidsons. If we can just get ’em to take a bite of a hamburger we know we’ve got ’em!
Henry, I disagree. This has nothing to do with “not seeing any real growth potential in the US”. This has everything to do with seeing a HUGE amount of growth in a hugely populated country with a rapidly developing middle class. This is called smart business. They’d be fools not to try and tap into that market.
The only problem with Harley trying to break into these huge population markets, is getting their new 75cc engine to pull an 800 pound garbage wagon like the Street Glide😉
I wonder how long until all Harleys sold in Australia are made in India because the savings on freight and labour costs could be channeled into bigger profits…
Soon they’ll be making huge touring bikes like the 350 Sprint 😉
Seriously, this is a smart move for the Company – Ignore a huge emerging market at your own peril.
Dave Blevins – The problem being by the time we’ve finally ‘ Americanized ‘ the World .. everything we’ve Americanized it with will read : Made in China … or ….. Made in Indian … with the only thing ‘ American ‘ about those things being the moniker on the box lid 😉
BTW to the rest ; Do a little ‘ research ‘ on the realities of India’s ‘ growing ‘ middle class . Its a myth … India’s economy has long since stalled and still to this day 95% of its citizens live in abject poverty
@guitarslinger, you may be correct, but 5% of 1.25 billion is 65 million Indians in the middle class. By comparison (understanding that numbers like these are relatively abstract), there are about 75 million Americans considered to be “middle class.” Again, these numbers are abstract and can be parsed ad infinitum, but they serve as a useful comparison tool
I agree that one ought to take a closer look at Indian growth rates, particularly in light of the economic climate of the last five years, but the world economy will pull through this downturn and India’s position as an emerging market with its enormous population will be an important source of income for American companies for the next few decades and beyond.
Well I just heard the first STORY about the life long HD rider in Montreal that is on his third new engine on his 2011 because they where made in India .I can see this being the new HD myth.Here we go !
Carl
BS. Nothing sold in the US is made in India, Maybe some clothing, I don’t know.
@Branson a large amount of computer software is.
To Dave Blevins:
While you are trying to amerecanize the world with Harleys, we slowly URALize Americans ))))
Sheriden, you see the light, also. it will take 5-10 years for the H-D “made in America” to dwindle away with the youger buyers arriving. They don’t care about that label. Australia will be a good example of the International intergration of that. I predicted years ago when the unions in USA were negotiating away their job protection to save “some” jobs, the India moves and lower labor cost that would arrive.
Victory, Triumph, Ducati don’t play the “Made in …” labels. They just keep building cutting edge and reliable mahines. Triumphs are not all made in England, and they have had some of the best years in sales and reputation.
The old guard H-D guys are slowing fading away from riding and being replaced. I hate the thought, but again I’m not niave.
I hope they get it done before my tour of Asia. I’d be willing to test/debut it for them there.
Are you Dude’s goofy? “Not a lot made in India is used in the US”???? How about every Fllea Bag Motel, Conveinance Store and Dollar Store. They are all Hindu’s in America?!@#$%^&*