HD Bringing New Lower Priced Bike to Asian Markets
Harley-Davidson will combat poor domestic sales with a new, cheaper model and business plan.
New Directions
It's no secret that Harley-Davidson has been facing some tough times as domestic sales fall. This has pushed the company to upheave their business plan and go in some bold new directions.
Photo courtesy of Advrider.
The Plan
Harley-Davidson's answer to dwindling domestic sales is to enter new foreign markets and expand their presence in existing ones. The Indian government recently lowered tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 100% down to 50%, making this the perfect time for the manufacturer to expand its efforts in the country.
Photo courtesy of Topspeed.
>>Join the conversation about Harley changing strategy to enter new markets right here in HD Forum!
New Model
In order for Harley to expand in Asia (particularly in India), it's crucial that they have a cheaper, smaller displacement motorcycle to meet the demands of the market. Last year Harley-Davidson announced that they would develop a bike for this motorcycle hungry market, and now they're following through on their promise.
Photo courtesy of Jalopnik.
>>Join the conversation about Harley changing strategy to enter new markets right here in HD Forum!
Production
Harley-Davidson already produces several models at its facility in Bawal, Haryana, India; the bikes produced at this factory include Dynas, Softails, as well as the Street 750 and 500 models. This is where the company hopes to produce its new smaller displacement, low-cost motorcycle.
Photo courtesy of HDforums.
>>Join the conversation about Harley changing strategy to enter new markets right here in HD Forum!
Price
No announcement has been made as of yet on how much the new model will cost. There has been speculation by Indian media, however, that the new bike will be priced at around $4,000. This would fall in line with the price point of the local market and other high-end manufacturers in the country like Royal Enfield.
Photo courtesy of HDforums.
>>Join the conversation about Harley changing strategy to enter new markets right here in HD Forum!
Features
Harley-Davidson hasn't released any official information relating to what features the new model will have. But, in order to meet the low price point, Harley may need to leave out some features such as LED lighting and digital instruments. It's likely the bike will be a simple offering featuring little more than ABS.
Photo courtesy of HDforums.
>>Join the conversation about Harley changing strategy to enter new markets right here in HD Forum!
Launch
There is still no information regarding what the new machine will look like but India's Zigwheels speculated that the bike will be shown to the public at EICMA in November. This will be just ahead of the bike's production launch in 2020.
Photo courtesy of HDforums.
>>Join the conversation about Harley changing strategy to enter new markets right here in HD Forum!
For help with routine maintenance and repairs, visit the HD Forums How-To section.
