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Business News/ Auto / Harley Davidson seeks partner to make 250-500 cc motorcycles in India
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Harley Davidson seeks partner to make 250-500 cc motorcycles in India

That could mean Harley-Davidson will not necessarily make the new motorcycles at its own facility in India, and may instead use a local partner

Harley-Davidson been very focussed on large, heavyweight motorcycles and its expertise in the 250-500cc space needs to grow, says CEO Marc McAllister. Photo: ReutersPremium
Harley-Davidson been very focussed on large, heavyweight motorcycles and its expertise in the 250-500cc space needs to grow, says CEO Marc McAllister. Photo: Reuters

Chicago: Harley-Davidson Inc. is scouting for a partner with a manufacturing and distribution footprint to make lightweight motorcycles for use in India and other Asian markets, a top company executive said. The Milwaukee-based company, known for its heavy touring motorcycles, said last week it would launch a 250-500cc motorcycle in India to boost sales in the world’s largest two-wheeler market as it grapples with an ageing customer base and falling sales in the United States.

Industry sales are projected to grow 25% a year in Asia’s third-largest economy in the 250-500cc segment through 2021.

“We realize that we as a company have been very focussed on large heavyweight motorcycles and our expertise in the 250-500cc space needs to grow," Marc McAllister, vice president of product portfolio at Harley-Davidson, told Reuters in an telephone interview on Friday.

“We are looking for a strategic alliance that can help us grow through understanding the product, understanding the consumer, understanding the assembly," he said.

That could mean Harley will not necessarily make the new motorcycles at its own facility in India, and may instead use a local partner, McAllister said. He declined to discuss names or details of potential partners.

Helped by rising discretionary spending, motorcycles sales in India are experiencing double-digit percentage growth, compared with tepid recent consumer demand in the United States.

Lured by the enticing growth prospects, British motorcycle maker Triumph Motorcycles UK and Germany’s BMW Motorrad have partnered with Indian companies Bajaj Auto Ltd and TVS Motor Ltd, respectively.

Harley expects the lightweight segment to act as a “bridge" to its brand, said McAllister, giving it a chance to make deeper inroads into a market where over 20 million two-wheelers are sold annually.

The company had been criticized by US President Donald Trump over a plan move production for European customers overseas to avoid retaliatory tariffs in a trade dispute between the United States and European Union.

Harley is hoping a foray into the lightweight segment, along with other new product launches, will expand its operating margins and add up to $250 million in operating profit in 2022.

Analysts are sceptical of the profit targets as India is a highly cost-competitive market and lightweight bikes are historically lower-margin products.

McAllister said the new bike will a premium product, but declined to reveal a price range.

As part of its drive to increase market share in India, Harley said it will increase its number of dealers there from the current 30, McAllister said.

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Published: 08 Aug 2018, 02:19 PM IST
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