Harley – Davidson as a brand needs no introduction to our readers. The customized pics of the customized HDs which we posted in our blog sometime back had a great response from you all, our dear readers explaining your affinity and interest towards HD bikes.
Now, the iconic bike maker Harley – Davidson is looking beyond India’s metro cities for growth in its sales figures and is eyeing smaller cities and towns in order to achieve its target of 40 per cent of sales to come from outside the US by the year 2014 (which is just not far at all).The company’s Indian arm which is Harley – Davidson India presently has seven dealerships across the sub – continent and is now looking to open new ones in the Indian cities of Kolkata, Jaipur and Kochi so as to aid expansion in a rapid manner. The company also feels that there is a considerable amount if demand from other cities as well
“Gradually, we have been ramping up our operations. We have also been able to increase the number of models assembled in India to five. There is a latent demand for our bikes in smaller towns across India apart from metros. So we will be going there,” Harley – Davidson India Director – Marketing, Mr. Sanjay Tripathi told the PTI in a recent interview.
Mr. Sanjay also said that while metros would continue to account for more sales for the company, the smaller towns “will help in expanding the Harley-Davidson culture”.
In the first quarter of this year – 2012, the company will open a showroom in Kolkata. This will be followed by new showrooms at Jaipur and Kochi by the fourth quarter of the calendar year, Mr. Tripathi added.
“Since the time we formally entered India in July, 2010, we have sold over 1,000 bikes, which is a good number, and we are confident of India also contributing significantly as Harley-Davidson targets 40 per cent of sales to come from outside of the US by 2014,” he said.
He then added a fact that ‘at present, about 35.7 per cent of Harley-Davidson’s sales come from outside the US.’
As of now, the company sells 15 models in India for the domestic market, out of which five are assembled at its facility at Bawal, in Haryana, which is Harley – Davidson’s second plant outside the US after Brazil.
Asked if the company plans to assemble more models in India, Mr Tripathi said any move would depend on market demand, just as in the case of the recent decision by the company to assemble two of its models, ‘Street Bob’ and ‘Super Glide Custom’, in the country.
Earlier, the company was assembling only its ‘Superflow’, ’Iron 883’ and ‘Forty Eight’ models at the Bawal plant.
So, what shall we expect form the company now apart from its dealers’ base expansion? More models? More customization for the models available in India? Throw your comments in the form of words below.
Regards,
M.Naren.
Author – BikeAdvice.in
