Last Resort Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 Company to Assemble Select Models at Facility in State of Haryana from U.S.-Supplied Assembly Kits MILWAUKEE, Nov. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 Motor Company 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. India will be the second country in which Harley-Davidson has CKD assembly operations outside the U.S., after Brazil where the Company began assembly operations in 1999. "We are committed to global growth and growth in India for the long term," said Levatich. "India's rapidly growing economy, rising middle class and significant investment in construction of new roads and highways are paving the way for leisure motorcycle riding." "We are building a strong foundation for our business in India, first by establishing a world-class dealer network, and now by commencing CKD assembly operations," said Anoop Prakash, Managing Director for Harley-Davidson India. "It is important for us to continue to invest in strategies that make our products and experiences accessible to an increasingly broader set of customers across India." Harley-Davidson India commenced operations in August 2009 and opened its first dealership in July 2010. The Company currently offers 12 models in its 2010 line-up in India, available through authorized dealerships in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Hyderabad. For more information, visit the Harley-Davidson India web site at www.harley-davidson.in Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company (HDMC) Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS), and Buell Motorcycle Company (Buell). Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces custom, touring and cruiser motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel. For further information, visit Harley-Davidson's web site at www.harley-davidson.com SOURCE Harley-Davidson, Inc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airpirate Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 The first step in Harley moving operations to India to save labor costs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Resort Posted November 2, 2010 Author Share Posted November 2, 2010 The first step in Harley moving operations to India to save labor costs I could see them doing that for a low cost entry level type line of bikes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badndn Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 Are they going to call them Indian/Harley Davidsons? Well...at least HD isn't trying to be elite. They want your average Joe on the street in India to be able to afford a HD. Good for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPScoutrider Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 Are they going to call them Indian/Harley Davidsons? Well...at least HD isn't trying to be elite. They want your average Joe on the street in India to be able to afford a HD. Good for them. HD in India = Motorcyclebombs (as in carbombs!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indian T Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 Well....if they are selling the parts to India to be assembled in India and sold in India, then I think that's ok. Hopefully it's not to assemble a bike in India to then be sold in the U.S. That would be bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Resort Posted November 2, 2010 Author Share Posted November 2, 2010 Well....if they are selling the parts to India to be assembled in India and sold in India, then I think that's ok. Hopefully it's not to assemble a bike in India to then be sold in the U.S. That would be bad. They just got into the India market. They are shipping bike "kits" over here to be assembled and sold in India. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maninbox Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 Aren't you all being a little naive. Every company starts out with some feel-good bullshit line about breaking into new markets and "no jobs will be lost, blah blah, blah... Let revisit this in a year or two and see just what they are building and for who. I work (and always have worked) for large companies that make even a layoff announcement (Workforce Streamlining Initiative) seem like good news. Benefits are taken away and the spin makes it look like an improvement. "Today, we are pleased to announce that starting January 1st, every employee will receive an additional 40 hours of vacation each year" . Sounds fine that way but the fine print reveals that this is because 80 hours of sick time each year is going away. Just the way it is in the world of big companies. They company knows that few will leave. Attrition is low when the economy is not so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Resort Posted November 2, 2010 Author Share Posted November 2, 2010 Aren't you all being a little naive. I have no idea where the future will take them I am stating what they are doing now. It took some work to get HD's sold in India Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airpirate Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 I like the sound of this, the bigger Harley's will be more fun to watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blu Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 HD as most other US manufactures are selling less product here. So by making parts here and shipping them elsewhere they are making more work for thier US employees. This may change later, perhaps it is part of larger plan to outsource, but for now it's a good thing for American workers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Loco Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 I like the sound of this, the bigger Harley's will be more fun to watch You can stuff more fertilizer into the extended baggs of a FLTCUI that the average Mahmud or Hadji can afford !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tahoe Chief Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 I like the sound of this, the bigger Harley's will be more fun to watch Wouldn't be so funny ifn there weren't a grain of truth in it some where. The first bike with any power I rode was a YZ80 it was 1974 roughly, the more you were fallin off the back the faster the little bastard wanted to go ! Ah the memories,course we were so stoned that we couldn't stop laughing for hours with that bike and everyone learning how to ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage229 Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 with the cows just roaming around in the street I wonder if "cow guards" will be a standard feature or an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badndn Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Aren't you all being a little naive. Every company starts out with some feel-good bullshit line about breaking into new markets and "no jobs will be lost, blah blah, blah... Let revisit this in a year or two and see just what they are building and for who. I work (and always have worked) for large companies that make even a layoff announcement (Workforce Streamlining Initiative) seem like good news. Benefits are taken away and the spin makes it look like an improvement. "Today, we are pleased to announce that starting January 1st, every employee will receive an additional 40 hours of vacation each year" . Sounds fine that way but the fine print reveals that this is because 80 hours of sick time each year is going away. Just the way it is in the world of big companies. They company knows that few will leave. Attrition is low when the economy is not so good. I think the man has it exactly right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harleynot Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 (edited) with the cows just roaming around in the street I wonder if "cow guards" will be a standard feature or an option. Blah, Blah Black Sheep.....they can have their "school of fish theory" with regards to seling motorcycles..... ...just another place to unload a billion more road queens... .. Edited November 4, 2010 by HARLEYNOT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airpirate Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Blah, Blah Black Sheep.....they can have their "school of fish theory" with regards to seling motorcycles..... ...just another place to unload a billion more road queens... .. Master, please share with me the secret of visiting Poor Reds and having the ability to ride home, I usually can't walk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harleynot Posted November 4, 2010 Share Posted November 4, 2010 Master, please share with me the secret of visiting Poor Reds and having the ability to ride home, I usually can't walk I usually carry lots of duct tape in my bags... .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It is Baloon Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 SHEESH. AT LEAST THIS GUY LOOKS LIKE AN HONEST FELLOW......NOT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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