HD to assemble motorcycles in India

[gat803]

I can't believe some of you guy's haven't been on this yet.
According to The Kneeslider.....

Harley Davidson Will Build Assembly Plant in India

"Press release follows:
Milwaukee, Nov. 2, 2010 – Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) 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 [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]Motor [COLOR=blue ! important]Company[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] 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."

[dwmitchell61]

Probably get one from there cheaper than you can buy one here!

[Notorious]

Won't that make them Indians?

[shadowmib]

Originally Posted by Notorious

Won't that make them Indians?

I wish this was on facebook so I could click "LIKE".

[CJH]

We live in a global economy. Does anyone really care where things are made anywhere?

[randy.caddell]

Really? It's been discussed here a few times before. Building bikes FOR India IN India with parts FROM America.

So?

[woodboats]

I remember when this was in the process of happening last year. It is part of a trade deal. Harleys are to be allowed in India and Indian mangos are to be allowed in the US.

I am sure they will sell a certain quantity of bikes to the "well-to-do" Indian market but the reality is large Harleys are not very suitable for Indian roads. You are doing well to be able to travel at 80-90 km, most often a lot less. A 500cc bike is a big bike and they produce that in the Royal Enfield. The 350 outsells the 500 by a long shot.
250CC bikes are more popular, and if Harley could get into this market they might do very well.
The new Honda 250 will sell way better than some large bike.

I have the feeling that by assembling their bikes in India, it may just be a slow progression to also exporting from India, which may very well be a good thing for both parties.

The bright side is you have some tasty mangos coming your way.

[Notorious]

Maybe if they assembled them in Australia it would feel more natural to turn right.

[BugMagnet]

Thanks for bringing HD to India;

[Dauntae]

On the larger HD they may get 7 more poeple on them than the 250's now