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{{Short description|Former Indian branch of US motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox company
| name = Harley-Davidson India
| logo =
| caption =
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| traded_as =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2009}}
| founder =
| defunct =
| fate = Due to low sales <br> relaunched by collab with [[Hero MotoCorp]]
| location_city = [[Gurgaon]], [[Haryana]]
| location_country = India
| locations =
| area_served =
| key_people =
| industry =
| products = [[Motorcycle]]s
| services =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| aum = 
| assets =
| equity =
| owner =
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| parent = [[Harley-Davidson]]
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|harley-davidson.in|harley-davidson.in}}
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}

'''Harley-Davidson India''' was a wholly owned branch of [[Harley-Davidson]], based in [[Gurgaon]], [[Haryana]], India. Harley-Davidson India commenced operations in August 2009 and, in July 2010, appointed its first dealership, which JCBL Group operates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zigwheels.com/news-features/news/gurgaon-is-harleydavidson-india-base/3494/|title=Gurgaon is Harley-Davidson India Base!|website=ZigWheels.com}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=JCBL Group Businesses| publisher=jcblgroup.com|url=https://jcblgroup.com/#capital-harley}}</ref>

On 24 September 2020, Harley Davidson announced that it would discontinue its sales and manufacturing operations in India due to weak demand and sales.<ref name=bbc1/>

==History==
In 2007, [[U.S. Trade Representative]] [[Susan Schwab]] and the [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Minister for Commerce and Industry of India]], [[Kamal Nath]], had agreed that Harley-Davidson motorcycles would be allowed access to the Indian market in exchange for the export of Indian mangoes.<ref>{{Cite news|title= India allows import of American cult bike Harley Davidson|work=[[Times of India]]|date=13 April 2007 |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/year-2007/india-allows-import-of-american-cult-bike-harley-davidson/articleshow/2637836.cms|agency=PTI|access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref> One Indian commentator called this "mango diplomacy."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mangoes-are-symbol-of-friendship-between-india-us-ambassador-sandhu/articleshow/91678041.cms|title=Mangoes are symbol of friendship between India, US: Ambassador Sandhu|work = Times of India|date=20 May 2022| access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref> However, India had not specified emission standards for motorcycles over 500 cc displacement, effectively prohibiting the import of Harley-Davidsons, along with most models of other manufacturers.<ref>{{Cite news|title=India Swaps Mangoes for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles|publisher=World Press|date=10 May 2007 |url=http://www.worldpress.org/Asia/2785.cfm}}</ref> Plans to export to India were also held up by import duties of 60% and taxes of 30%, which effectively doubled the sale price.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Harley shelves India plans, citing duties|publisher=Mint|date=1 May 2007 |url=http://www.livemint.com/2007/05/01000418/Harley-shelves-India-plans-ci.html}}</ref> A Harley-Davidson spokesman said the company thinks demand is high enough to overcome the tariffs, and (then) chief operating officer [[Matthew Levatich]] said they would continue to push for lower tariffs.<ref name="denverpost.com"/> Levatich has since been promoted to chief executive officer.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-puts-spotlight-on-harley-davidsons-overseas-sales-challenges-1488372741 | work=Wall Street Journal | title=Harley-Davidson is doing pretty well overseas | date=1 March 2017}}</ref>

In 2009, Harley-Davidson announced plans to establish a subsidiary to be located in Gurgaon, near Delhi.<ref>{{Cite news | title= Harley to Ride Indian Growth | work= Wall Street Journal | url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125135162394762877 | date= 28 August 2009 | first= Eric | last= Bellman | access-date= 28 August 2009 | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150818070544/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125135162394762877 | archive-date= 18 August 2015 }}</ref> Plans to enter the Indian market were delayed for several years, due to high tariffs and [[Emission standard|emissions regulations]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/|title=Trending stories on Indian Lifestyle, Culture, Relationships, Food, Travel, Entertainment, News & New Technology News|website=indiatimes.com}}</ref> The pollution regulations have recently changed, but the tariff problem is yet unresolved.<ref name="denverpost.com"/> Also in 2009, Harley-Davidson India established its annual rock music tour – Harley Rock Riders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afaqs.com/news/advertising/38354_harley-davidson-announces-the-fourth-season-of-harley-rock-riders|title=Harley Davidson announces the fourth season of Harley Rock Riders|website=afaqs!|date=12 August 2013 }}</ref>

Harley-Davidson announced it was introducing 12 models in India from the range of five motorcycle families, namely Sportster, Dyna, VRSC, Softail and CVO. The motorcycles were completely built units and were to be imported to India, thus attracting a tax over 100% in the price range of 695,000 rupees and 3,495,000 rupees ex-showroom. The bookings were scheduled to start in April 2010 and the motorcycle delivery was to commence in June 2010. To begin with, Harley-Davidson would have five dealerships (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chandigarh) with the aim of increasing the dealerships to more than 20 in the next five years.<ref>[http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/568/5429/Motorcycle-Article/Harley-Davidson-India-Intros-Motorcycle-Lineup.aspx Harley-Davidson India Intros Motorcycle Lineup] MotorcycleUSA.com</ref>

The United States ambassador to India, [[Timothy J. Roemer]], attended the opening ceremonies for H-D India's [[Gurgaon]] headquarters on 6 May 2010.<ref name="denverpost.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13214706|title=Harley-Davidson to sell motorcycles in India - The Denver Post|date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044743/http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13214706|archive-date=2015-09-24}}</ref> In November 2010, Harley-Davidson said that it will start an assembly facility for [[complete knock down]] (CKD) kits of its motorcycles in India by the first half of 2011, making it only the second CKD facility outside the US.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/auto/two-wheelers/Harley-Davidson-to-set-up-assembly-plant-in-Haryana/articleshow/6858489.cms | work=The Times Of India | title=News By Industry | date=2 November 2010}}</ref>

Anoop Prakash was the company's founding Managing Director.<ref name=ET>{{citation|title=Harley Davidson seeks 25 pc growth; targets small cities|newspaper=EconomicTimes|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/auto/two-wheelers/harley-davidson-seeks-25-pc-growth-targets-small-cities/articleshow/13120850.cms|date=13 May 2012}}</ref>

In 2011, the company set up an assembly unit at Bawal, Haryana. In 2011, Harley-Davidson India began the assembly of its Sportster line followed by the assembly of the Dyna line in 2012 and Softail line in 2013.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

In 2014 Harley began production of their [[Harley-Davidson Street]] 500 and 750 models in India for domestic sales and export, at Bawal, Haryana India, its only manufacturing facility outside of the US.<ref name="auto"/> Also in 2014, the company organized five big rides across the north, south, east and west zones along with the India H.O.G. Rally that takes place every year in Goa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.motoroids.com/news/harley-davidson-national-hog-rally-2-goa-report-images/|title=Harley-Davidson National HOG Rally 2 in Goa: Report and Images|first=Hameed Anu|last=says|website=motoroids.com|date=17 January 2014 }}</ref>

On 24 September 2020, Harley-Davidson announced that it would discontinue its sales and manufacturing operations in India due to weak demand and sales. The move involves $75 million in restructuring costs, 70 layoffs and the closure of its Bawal plant in northern India.<ref name=bbc1>{{Cite news|date=2020-09-25|title=Harley-Davidson to exit world's biggest bike market|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54290245|access-date=2020-09-25}}</ref>

As of July 2025, some Harley-Davidson products are marketed and sold in India through a collaboration between [[Hero MotoCorp]] and Harley-Davidson.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raj |first=Neha |date=2023-09-26 |title=Harley-Davidson Launches 210cc Motorcycle at a More Affordable Price Point Than the Royal Enfield Bullet |url=https://pune.news/auto/harley-davidson-launches-210cc-motorcycle-at-a-more-affordable-price-point-than-the-royal-enfield-bullet-64443/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=PUNE NEWS |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/two-wheelers-three-wheelers/hero-motocorp-expands-partnership-with-harley-davidson/articleshow/116719268.cms|title=Hero MotoCorp, Harley-Davidson extend India partnership |first=Mohit |last=Bhalla|website=economictimes.indiatimes.com|publisher=[[The Economic Times]]|url-access=subscription|date=29 December 2024 |access-date=13 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/auto/hero-motocorp-harley-davidson-extend-partnership-to-collaborate-on-a-new-motorcycle-7363788|title=Hero MotoCorp & Harley-Davidson Extend Partnership To Collaborate On A New Motorcycle|first=Kingshuk|last=Dutta| website=ndtv.com|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=30 December 2024|access-date=13 July 2025}}</ref>

==Products and operations==

Harley-Davidson offered a range of 11 models in India from each of its six platforms – Sportster, Dyna, Softail, V-Rod, Touring, Street and X440 – in addition to a full range of parts, accessories, and general merchandise, available through authorized dealerships. The company had 29 dealership facilities across India: New Delhi, Gurgaon, Coimbatore, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Ranchi, Kochi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Indore, Pune, Goa, Guwahati and Jaipur etc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/plbR77Nrr8FEpa2ZmNiEBN/HarleyDavidson-launches-8216Fat-Boy-Special8217-at-Rs.html|title=Harley-Davidson launches 'Fat Boy Special' at Rs19.7 lakh|date=4 August 2011|website=Mint}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/|title=Business News Today: Read Latest Business news, India Business News Live, Share Market & Economy News|website=The Economic Times}}</ref> The Street platform was jointly manufactured at Harley-Davidson's US and India plants. The Street 750 was also exported to Europe and Asia markets from India.<ref name="auto"/> Harley-Davidson India also sponsored the country's Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zigwheels.com/news-features/news/harleydavidson-to-host-first-hog-rally-in-india/15182/|title=Harley-Davidson to host first HOG Rally in India|website=ZigWheels.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite journal |author1=Sanjeev Prashar |author2=Jagadeesh Kumar V |author3=Lokesh Haridoss |date=2012-11-15 |title=Harley-Davidson India |url=https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=112398 |journal=[[The Case Centre]] |language=English |publisher=Ivey Publishing |pages= |doi= |isbn= |via=}}
* {{cite journal |author1=Bhattacharya, Subhendu |author2=Raghuvanshi, Sona |year=2020 |title=Organizational strategy to wind up Harley Davison operation in India |url=https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A4%3A10417396/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A146987440&crl=c&link_origin=scholar.google.com |journal=IAHRW International Journal of Social Sciences Review |language=English |volume=8 |issue=7-9 |pages=239 |issn=2347-3797}}

{{Two wheelers in India}}

[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers of India]]
[[Category:Harley-Davidson]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 2009]]
[[Category:2009 establishments in Haryana]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Gurgaon]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 2009]]
[[Category:Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies]]

Harley-Davidson India - Revision history

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