Harley Opening India Plant

[Papa Zook]

Harley-Davidson will open an assembly plant in Haryana, India and plans to have it running by the middle of next year to feed the Indian market. Workers will build bikes from component kits supplied by U.S. plants. The company expects the CKD (complete knock-down) assembly facility to be operational in the first half of 2011.

"CKD assembly operations in India are a natural next step for Harley-Davidson as we build our brand presence around the world," said president and COO 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."

The company opened its first Indian dealership in August and plans to have five open by the end of the year. Those stores have been selling American-made bikes. Some models will continue to be imported as completely built motorcycles “for now,” the company says..

The Motor Co. also has a CKD plant in Brazil.

[Buggie Pilot]

Harley-Davidson will open an assembly plant in Haryana, India

"CKD assembly operations in India are a natural next step for Harley-Davidson as we build our brand presence around the world," said president and COO 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."

BIG :blahblah:

Read the real words "flexibility while reducing the tariff burden" ..... What it comes down to is another US based manufacturing company moves jobs overseas to get around paying tarrifs meanwhile Us import tarrifs are so weak that dosen't make sense for anyone purchace american made goods ... so factories close or move abroad .... shame on our government

[Big_Steve]

BIG :blahblah:

Read the real words "flexibility while reducing the tariff burden" ..... What it comes down to is another US based manufacturing company moves jobs overseas to get around paying tarrifs meanwhile Us import tarrifs are so weak that dosen't make sense for anyone purchace american made goods ... so factories close or move abroad .... shame on our government

Not that I would have any way of knowing. But it's probably just cheaper to ship kits and assemble with cheap labor there, then to pay to ship whole bikes. Doesn't bother me.

Now if they start building them there, and shipping here, that would bug me.

I have 2 used Hondas that were built in the USA by US workers. I would have had NO problem buying them new. But they've shifted Manf back to Japan, I can't imagine I would ever buy a new Honda now.

[Buggie Pilot]

I guess if they are built here that is still giving american citizens a job .... I guess my beef is with the tarrif imbalance

[Saltywheels]

This is an old issue. HD has been trying for years to break into the Indian market. Bikes are an integral part of transportation in my old country. HD bikes are very sort after & are very poular. But the US govt had to give something to get something. The deal was Mangoes from India for HD rights to sell / manafacture in India. Take it from one who knows! They've gone the CKD route since the entry tax on a fully assembled luxury item such as a $20k mc is astronomical. It would then only be available to the affluent. It wouldn't be worth the effort for HD. It's all economics:blahblah:

[skuuter]

There will be other plants soon also, just as Honda and other Companies have had to go to China and Thailand for some of Their 2010, and 2011 Bike Models. Global Manufacturing, using the cheapest and/or fastest labor is becoming a "must" for every company to compete in Their respective markets...."Like it or Not".....

[curley03]

Triumph Bonneville models are made in Bangkok Thailand. so on it goes.

[skuuter]

Triumph Bonneville models are made in Bangkok Thailand. so on it goes.

Yep...."Fact of Manufacturing Life" now.....