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Harley-Davidson to build bikes in India
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-11-04/world...ana?_s=PM:WORLD

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.

"What we are doing is made in USA, assembled in India, which will have a positive job effect back home which is why we are driving this investment as quickly as we are," Anoop Prakash managing director for Harley Davidson India told CNN.

The company is trying to expand its brand internationally from 30 to 40 percent by 2014 according to Prakash and India plays an important role in that.

"We see a distinctive credible growth story here, growth opportunity," he said.

India is the second fastest growing two-wheeler market in the world behind China. More than 10 million two-wheelers were sold in India in the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Beyond the obvious market potential there is another major reason Harley-Davidson is building an assembly plant in India -- to bring down India's import duties which right now are so high Indian consumers pay double for fully assembled imported vehicles. Exporting just the parts to India could lower the import duty tariffs by around 80 percent according to Prakash.

Harley-Davidson's story in India began in 2007 with a trade agreement that allowed India to export mangoes to America in exchange for allowing the United States to export Harley-Davidsons to India.

The company said it is on target to sell 200-250 bikes in the first six months in India. The high-end bikes went on sale in the county in July 2010.

Gurgaon resident Vikram Bhalla was the first to ride off with one in India.

"I've always wanted a Harley when I was growing up. I had little posters on my wall. I remember seeing Harley-Davidson and the Marlborough man, remember the old movies. It made people look so cool, so I thought why not?" Bhalla said.

The company hopes there are many more people like Bhalla in the India market. Harley-Davidson is opening its fifth dealership in Bangalore, India this month.

So how many rupees for a Rocker C?

Royal Enfield will finally have competition selling 1940's technology.

Maybe RE will start building bikes with bigger motors? Anyone seen The Musket

~Brent

That's odd. I had thought that India was a poor nation. I had no idea the people could afford a Harley.

there are two classes in India the rich and the poor.
the poor class is just much larger, but they have a huge population.
I love that bike though I would buy the 1000 musket.

I really liked that bike the first time I saw it a while back. Very cool looking.

One Religion.
Four Places of Worship.
A Million Believers.
(from their India website.)

"alright we'll trade you these mangos for your harley davidsons"

this is too funny to be true

Jeezus, does tech support pay that well?

"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"

And the first one was ....Japan ...would you believe it!!

Way back in the twenties though.

"Funny" how the spin docs wind these things up with "International market opportunities, diversity, peace love & manufacturin' happiness - blah blah..."

Let me translate: "Oh H-ll yeah we likes us that $1,500 gross wages per employee per year, no worker's comp, no health insurance, no sick time, no vacation time, no pesky environmental laws, no union cry baby work force." "We're so d-mn happy, let's say we build 'em a nice lunch room in the new plant - with chairs even!"

That RE musket is pretty sweet looking. I want one too.