Before purists jump to conclusions and fire off angry letters, this is not about heresy: iconic American marque Harley-Davidson is working diligently on setting up production of a locally-produced and locally-sold motorcycle for the vast market that is India.
Harley-Davidson in India
Harley-Davidson is having a tough time dealing with the struggling economy, as are many of the established marques, and has already turned to the resilient and expanding market of India for some much needed revenue. If anyone expected them to have trouble selling their distinctive V-Twin motorcycles to people on the Subcontinent, that person was not paying attention. Harley-Davidson is as much – maybe more – of an icon there than in its home nation.
That mythos is leading to decent sales for Harley-Davidson there, but things could be even better if the bikes appealed to a wider variety of buyers. At present, H-D is using the CKD (Completely Knocked Down) build system to assemble at least three models specifically for India and the member countries of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations); those models trade quite well. Another byproduct of this is that Indian consumers are also quite interested in purchasing the culture of Harley-Davidson, and the branded gear, clothing and accessories are selling well too.
H-D Creates for India
On the Indian market, a Harley-Davidson is an expensive piece of heavy metal. The hefty 60% tariff imposed on the finished U.S. made product certainly doesn't help matters for the average middle-class Indian. That is why producing a motorcycle designed by Harley-Davidson, but built locally, makes so much sense. It saves money for the parent company, provides better pricing for dealers and helps make their bikes available to more potential consumers.
Insiders, all of whom have so far declined to identify themselves due to the project's secrecy, have stated that Harley-Davidson plans to source most or all of its parts in India as well, making the bikes even more 'local' than those in American showrooms. H-D will no doubt hold the bikes made in India to the same standard as those produced elsewhere, but it will surely be different.
Specifics for Indian Model
For instance, the sources have claimed that the displacement will range between 500 and 700 cc, which will be the smallest Harley-Davidson in production. 
Details such as chassis and running gear are unknown at this time, as are any further details on its intended market segment – cruiser, bagger or sport cruiser? Many in the local Indian press, bloggers and the bike forums are hoping for a model which is light, agile and sporty but still holds true to the Harley-Davidson tradition; something akin to a smaller XR1200X, which runs cooler and comes with suspension capable of sustaining some rough roads.
Our news points to a release date somewhere in the middle of next year to early 2013, but that only comes from one source. Determining the price at which Harley-Davidson will list the Indian model is tough this far in advance, but a target amount is said to be around 400,000 (US$8,913). The current model line-up starts at 550,000 (US$12,220), but most are imported with the balance made up of the three CKD bikes.
Harley...Davidson...Vroom, Vroom
Being an icon with a loyal worldwide following has its advantages, and Harley-Davidson has managed to remain authentic even in the eyes of their harshest critics. Building a motorcycle in India for India does not take anything away from that reputation – there are no plans to sell the new bike back in the U.S. - and it means that it can extend even further into a market which seriously wants to own their products.
As long as the Indian economy stays its course, and the marque does not substitute quality in the name of quantity and profit - the new bike had better be something Indian motorcyclists desire to own and ride - Harley-Davidson should have a strong presence in India.
