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Tag: Harley-Davidson

  • Most Affordable Harley-Davidson Will Be A 338 cc Motorcycle

    Most Affordable Harley-Davidson Will Be A 338 cc Motorcycle

    Harley-Davidson confirmed the development of a small capacity motorcycle earlier this year and now the American bike maker has officially released details of what will be its smallest motorcycle yet. Harley has joined hands with China-based company – Qianjang Motorcycle – and willl be building a 338 cc naked motorcycle. The bike will be manufactured in China, one of the biggest auto markets in the world, and will be exported to a number of countries including India. Harley has also released a render image of the 338 cc motorcycle, which is more of an aggressive street-naked than the traditional cruiser design that the manufacturer is known for.

    Speaking about what will be most affordable offering from the company, Matt Levatich, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson said, “Harley-Davidson has always been about inspiring riders around the world. Our More Roads plan is all about bringing our brand of freedom to more people, in more places, in more ways. We’re excited about this opportunity to build more Harley riders in China, one of the world’s largest motorcycle markets, by creating new pathways to our brand.”

    The upcoming Harley-Davidson 338 cc naked will be co-developed by the US-based manufacturer and Qianjang. The styling is a mix between a street-fighter and a scrambler, and is more of an urban naked. Considering that a lot of potential buyers for the upcoming offering will be young first-time Harley owners, the company will aim to provide a mix of old and new in design and technology. Although not much has been said about the underpinnings of the new motorcycle, the bike is likely to be underpinned by a Trellis frame with possibly a liquid-cooled, parallel-twin motor, telescopic front forks, dual disc brakes and an analogue instrument console with a digital readout.

    The new Harley 338 cc motorcycle will be launched in China first by the end of 2020, and is likely to make it to other parts of Asia and other emerging markets by 2021. That’s also when we expect the India launch to take place with the model likely to be locally assembled at the company’s Haryana-based facility. With its smallest offering, Harley will be taking on Royal Enfield as well as the models to be produced under the Bajaj-Triumph alliance in the 350 cc cruiser segment. Royal Enfield currently rules this space growing aggressively in the middleweight motorcycle segment worldwide. Expect prices to be around the ₹ 3.5 lakh (ex-showroom) mark for the entry-level Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

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  • Harley-Davidson To Enter 250-500 cc Motorcycle Segment In 2020

    Harley-Davidson To Enter 250-500 cc Motorcycle Segment In 2020

    American motorcycle maker, Harley-Davidson has an expansive plan to enter newer segments in the years to come, one of which will be the entry-level 250-500 cc space that will arrive as early as next year. While the manufacturer has already shared plans of an adventure motorcycle, electric bike and other offerings, the latest development confirms that the company is also eyeing the entry-level premium motorcycle segment, which will give it a boost in emerging markets across the globe. The announcement comes Harley’s President & CEO – Matt Levatich, who confirmed the development as part of the “More Roads to Harley-Davidson” growth plan. The new small capacity motorcycles will cater to several high emerging growth markets including India.

    Speaking at the recently held earnings call, Matt Levatich said, “More Roads progress in Q1 included steps towards a partnership for a premium small displacement offering in Asia, to expand our reach in that region. We are just over a year away from launching our first model that will help provide access to millions of customers in emerging markets in the region.”

    It was a bold move when Harley-Davidson introduced the Street 750 and Street 500 globally as its most affordable offerings in 2013. The entry-level cruisers gave the manufacturer better presence in several emerging markets where the aspirational brand was now reachable. With the 250-500 cc segment, Harley will be taking on a number of players most important of which is Royal Enfield that currently rules this space in India.

    Globally too, the Chennai-based bike maker has been expanding its presence and has been vocal of its plans to lead the middleweight motorcycle segment. The new Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650 come close to the Harley Street range in pricing and displacement. In addition, there are also the offerings that will be spawned under the Triumph-Bajaj partnership which reportedly includes a small capacity Street Twin. BMW, KTM, Yamaha, and Honda are already present in this space.

    Smaller capacity offerings then certainly will be an exciting space in the years to come and offer a big room for Harley-Davidson to grow. The company’s smallest motorcycle globally is the Street 500, and the new 250-300 cc motorcycle could be a smaller Street badged bike. Expect to see Harley’s trademark V-Twin layout for the motor that will be Euro 5/BS6 compliant, with the motor high on torque. Expect it to look like the quintessential Harley in design, which is a big part of the sell for the buyer.

    Speaking of which, the smaller-capacity Harleys will be targeted at young buyers looking to establish a connection with the iconic brand, without spending too much money. It will also help the brand build volumes globally, which means standardized production for better economies of scale. More details on the new Harley will be available in the coming months and we do hope to hear something official at the Intermot or EICMA motorcycle shows later in the year.

  • Harley-Davidson India Announces Winners Of Internship

    Harley-Davidson India Announces Winners Of Internship

    Harley-Davidson India has announced the selection of four final applicants for the #FindYourFreedom internship program that offers interns a glimpse into the Harley-Davidson way of life and is intended to help build the next generation of riders in India. The hunt for the finalists for the summer internship program began on March 31, 2019, via social media campaigns and received a total of 2,207 entries which were shortlisted to 100 before the final 12 made it to an in-person selection round. After three rounds of tasks, intense discussions, and interviews, four applicants have been selected.

    “Harley-Davidson has been operating for a decade in India and in line with our ‘More Roads to Harley-Davidson’ plan, we launched the #FindYourFreedom internship program for the first time in India this year. The response from across the country was phenomenal and I was delighted to meet all the finalists. It was a close competition amongst the 12 finalists and everyone in the room displayed intense passion and energy for the brand. We are looking forward to welcoming the winners as they start first-hand their experience in the Harley-Davidson way of life,” said Sajeev Rajasekharan, Managing Director, Harley-Davidson India.

    The four finalists are Shashank Nawani (25) from Delhi, Ashish Rawat (23) from Dehra Dun, Roy Chacko (51) from Hyderabad and Prateek Darolia (31) from Chennai. The winners were announced after jury rounds with a panel of experts from the automotive industry. Amongst other things, the internship will comprise activities like riding with H.O.G. communities, on-ground experience at dealerships, custom bike building, flat track riding, attending Harley-Davidson University courses and more. The internship commences from May 15, 2019.

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  • Harley-Davidson 2019 First Quarter Sales Down

    Harley-Davidson 2019 First Quarter Sales Down

    Harley-Davidson has released its first-quarter results of 2019, and worldwide sales of motorcycles seem to have taken a hit, with the Bar & Shield brand reporting a 3.8 per cent decrease in global sales. While Harley says international sales were down 3.3 per cent, domestic US sales were down 4.2 per cent. According to Harley, these decreases were driven by “continued weak industry sales that were down 4.7 per cent.” Net income in the first quarter declined by 26.8 per cent as a result of declining worldwide sales. The company’s first quarter net income was reported as $ 127.9 million, down from $ 174.8 million in the same period of 2018, while the consolidated revenue was $ 1.38 billion in the first quarter of this year, compared to $ 1.54 billion in the first quarter of 2018.

    Struggling with falling sales and demand for motorcycles, Harley-Davidson has launched a campaign to build the next generation of riders with its “More Roads to Harley-Davidson” accelerated growth plan. The company’s strategic objectives through 2027 are to build as many as 2 million new riders in the US alone, grow international business to 50 per cent of annual volume, launch 100 new high impact motorcycles, and do so profitably and sustainably.

    “We are acting with agility and discipline to take full advantage of rapidly evolving global markets,” said Matt Levatich, president and chief executive officer, Harley-Davidson, Inc. “Harley-Davidson’s U.S. market share growth and retail sales performance in the first quarter are further evidence of the effects we are having as we continue to implement and dial-in our More Roads efforts.

    “We are driven by our un-paralleled rider focus and deep analytics that are guiding our efforts today and into the future. We, along with our dealers, are determined to lead and stimulate global industry growth.”

    Harley-Davidson said it has made some progress on the More Roads plan and appointed its first-ever brand president, to fully engage the power of the brand as a catalyst to achieve its strategy and long-term objectives. Harley has also expanded its electric portfolio with the acquisition of StaCyc, a maker of electric two-wheelers for children. There are also continued preparations to launch the LiveWire, Harley-Davidson’s first electric motorcycle later this year.

    For the second quarter of 2019, Harley-Davidson expects to ship approximately 65,000 to 70,500 motorcycles, with overall motorcycle shipments in 2019 estimated to be in the region of 2,17,000 to 2,22,000 motorcycles

  • Harley-Davidson’s New Engine Revealed

    Harley-Davidson’s New Engine Revealed

    Harley-Davidson is working on a new liquid-cooled engine that is expected to power a range of new middleweight models including the production versions of the Harley-Davidson Pan America adventure tourer, Harley-Davidson Custom 1250 and the Harley-Davidson Streetfighter. The engine designs filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office reveals quite a few details about the new engine, which is expected to be used in several new models to be launched between 2020 and 2022. The new engine will be a 60-degree v-twin which will be fully liquid-cooled, with a compact crankcase and transmission.

    The design images of the new engine shows mounting points behind the transmission and on either side of the cylinder heads, and the concept designs of the upcoming models also suggested that the engine will act as a stressed member of the chassis. The latest design images don’t indicate any engine displacement, but Harley-Davidson has already announced that engine sizes will vary from 500 cc to 1250 cc. But these lack the traditional pushrods and will have double overhead cams.

    The original concept images of the upcoming Harley-Davidson models reveal that the engines on each model are slightly different. The Custom 1250 had different coloured covers for the heads for a two-toned effect. The Streetfighter 975 also had a two-toned engine but with a difference in colours. The latest design filings are a mix of the engine types seen on the concept images. The head covers and cylinder covers are all separate pieces on the engine design images. At least three new models, showcased as concept images, will be launched in the next few years. First up, will be the Harley-Davidson Pan America adventure tourer, which will likely be launched in 2020, as a 2021 model. Next up will be the Streetfighter, which is expected sometime later, followed by the Custom 1250.

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  • Harley-Davidson India Launches Internship Programme

    Harley-Davidson India Launches Internship Programme

    In a celebration of Harley-Davidson’s tenth year in India, the American motorcycle brand has announced a summer internship, offering motorcycle fans an experience of a lifetime. The internship was launched in the US last year, and now Harley fans can become a part of the brand, and experience the Harley-Davidson lifestyle up close and personal.

    This one-of-a-kind opportunity will allow interns to be part of Harley-Davidson’s marketing and social media team, and will get to take to the road, and document their journey throughout summer. The internship has been launched on March 31, 2019, and Harley-Davidson India is inviting applications from fans of the brand to be a part of the Harley-Davidson story in India.

    “We are thrilled to launch the INTERN program in India for the first time. The Internship will be a great way to engage and build future Harley-Davidson riders, lending them a first-hand experience of the Harley-Davidson way of life. We are looking forward to the next few months where at the end of the selection process, three candidates will earn their place here to spend a whole month with us,” said Sajeev Rajasekharan, Managing Director, Harley-Davidson India.

    According to Harley-Davidson, to qualify for this internship, candidates must be socially savvy storytellers, and interested candidates must describe what freedom means to them by creating a video, writing an essay, developing a photo collage or creating whatever piece of content they want to make their application unique and submitting it to the Harley-Davidson India’s Instagram handle.

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  • Harley-Davidson enters race to buy Italian rival Ducati

    Harley-Davidson enters race to buy Italian rival Ducati

    U.S. motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson is lining up a takeover bid for Italian rival Ducati, potentially bringing together two of the most famous names in motorcycling in a deal that could be worth up to 1.5 billion euros ($1.67 billion), sources told Reuters.

    Indian motorcycle maker Bajaj Auto and several buyout funds are also preparing bids for Ducati, which is being put up for sale by German carmaker Volkswagen.

    A deal with Harley-Davidson would bring together the maker of touring bikes like the Electra Glide that are symbolic of America with a leading European maker whose high-performance bikes have a distinguished racing heritage.

    Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson has hired Goldman Sachs to work on the deal, one source familiar with the matter said, adding tentative bids were expected in July.

    Volkswagen, whose Audi division controls Ducati – maker of the iconic Monster motorbike – is working with investment boutique Evercore on the sale which will help it fund a strategic overhaul following its emissions scandal.

    Based in the northern Italian city of Bologna, Ducati was on the wish list of private equity funds KKK, Bain Capital and Permira, which are all working on the deal, said the sources who declined to be identified as the process is private.

    Ducati was launched in 1926 as a maker of vacuum tubes and radio components and its Bologna factory remained open in World War Two despite being the target of several bombings.

    Ducati racers have won the Superbike world championship 14 times, with Carl Fogarty and Troy Bayliss its most successful riders.

    Harley-Davidson, which commands about half the U.S. big-bike market, was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the start of the last century and was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the great depression.

    Demand for Harley’s motorcycles continues to be slow as its loyal baby boomer demographic ages and rivals such as the Indian brand bike maker Polaris Industries Inc (PII.N) and Japan’s Honda Motor offer discounts.

    Volkswagen’s powerful labor unions, which control half the seats on the carmaker’s 20-strong supervisory board, repeated their opposition to selling the Italian motorcycle maker.

    “Ducati is a jewel, the sale of which is not supported by the labor representatives on Volkswagen’s supervisory board,” a spokesman for VW group’s works council said in an email.

    “Harley-Davidson is miles behind Ducati in technology terms,” he added.

    BIDDING FIELD

    Evercore has sent out information packages to a number of potential suitors including Ducati’s previous owner Investindustrial, sources with knowledge of the matter said.

    Investindustrial bought a stake in Ducati before the financial crisis, subsequently taking control of the business before selling it to Audi in 2012.

    It is now looking to compete with heavyweight private equity firms and large industry players to regain control.

    Volkswagen, Audi, Harley-Davidson, KKR and Bain Capital declined to comment. Bajaj, Investindustrial and Permira were not immediately available.

    Volkswagen, Europe’s largest carmaker, is seeking to move beyond an emissions-cheating scandal that has tarnished its image and left it facing billions of euros in fines and settlements.

    A successful deal for Ducati, which last year reported revenues of 593 million euros, would show Volkswagen boss Matthias Mueller is serious about reversing his predecessor’s quest for size.

    Volkswagen said last June it would review its portfolio of assets and brands, rekindling speculation among analysts that “non-core” businesses could be put up for sale.

    Volkswagen hopes to raise between 1.4 billion and 1.5 billion euros from the sale of Ducati, valuing it at 14-15 times its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of about 100 million euros, the sources said.

    The German car maker wants a valuation that reflects trading multiples of similar trophy assets in the automotive industry, such as Italian car maker Ferrari (RACE.MI) which trades at almost 30 times its forward earnings.

    Yet it may need to compromise on price as some of the bidders would struggle to pay as much as 1.5 billion euros for Ducati, several sources said.

    Price expectations have already proved challenging for some industry players who recently decided against bidding.

    Indian motorcycle firm Hero Moto and its rival TVS Motor initially expressed interest in Ducati but were put off by its price tag and decided to walk away, the sources said.

    German car marker BMW and Japanese motorcycle makers Honda and Suzuki have also decided against bidding for Ducati, sources close to the companies told Reuters.

    A BMW spokesman confirmed the German firm was not interested in Ducati, while Hero and TVS were not immediately available for comment.

    Another source close to Volkswagen said the sale of Ducati might not be finalised before the annual EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in mid-November as Volkswagen wanted to find the right buyer and the sales process might take time.

  • Harley-Davidson plans a Thailand factory to serve SE Asian market

    Harley-Davidson plans a Thailand factory to serve SE Asian market

    otorcycle maker Harley-Davidson said on Thursday it will build a plant in Thailand, a major Asian automotive hub, to serve the growing Southeast Asian market, a move criticized by a U.S. labor union.

    The company did not give a figure for the planned investment in Thailand’s Rayong province, southeast of Bangkok.

    Katie Whitmore, Harley-Davidson public relations manager, said the company had its best results in Asia-Pacific in 2016, though she gave no numbers.

    The Thailand facility “will allow us to be more responsive and competitive in the ASEAN region and China,” Harley-Davidson public relations manager Katie Whitmore said.

    “Increased access and affordability for our customers in the region is key to growth for the company in total,” she said. “There is no intent to reduce H-D U.S. manufacturing due to this expansion.”

    The plant would let Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson avoid Thailand’s up to 60 percent tariff on imported motorcycles and help it get tax breaks when exporting to Thailand’s neighbors, thanks to a trade arrangement among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN).

    Harley opened a plant in India in 2011. It also assembles motorcycles at a plant in Brazil.

    After the New York Times reported on Harley’s planned Thai investment, United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard on Tuesday said the decision was “a slap in the face to the American worker and to hundreds of thousands of Harley riders across the country.”

    USW represents members at Harley plants in two U.S. states and 850,000 workers in North America.

    Gerard also said that production outside the U.S. “puts in jeopardy the success that has propelled Harley over the years.”

    Whitmore said motorcycles assembled in Thailand would have the same “authentic look, sound and feel” as those manufactured in the U.S.

    Demand for Harley motorcycles in the U.S., the company’s biggest market, continues to be slow as its loyal baby boomer demographic changes ages.

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  • Tesla may open first dealership in Korea

    Tesla may open first dealership in Korea

    Tesla Motors, the Silicon Valley-grown electric vehicle manufacturer, may open its first Korea dealership in a Shinsegae Group shopping complex within this year.

    “The talks are positive, for sure, but the final confirmation has yet to be reached,” said a Shinsegae Group spokesperson.

    “If the final confirmation is made, Shinsegae Property, which is pursuing the deal with Tesla, will give us notice,” he added.

    According to industry sources Thursday, if negotiations succeed, Tesla will open its first Korean dealership in Shinsegae’s Starfield Hanam shopping complex in Gyeonggi as early as November. The complex is a 30-minute drive from Seoul’s Gangnam District.

    Tesla CEO Elon Musk also confirmed Seoul as one of his next targets along with Taipei and Mexico City for the company’s high-end electric vehicles.

    “We are also accelerating store openings and plan to add a new retail location every four days on average during the remainder of Q3 and through Q4,” said Musk in an earnings report distributed Wednesday.

    “We are adding stores in new population-dense markets like Taipei, Seoul, and Mexico City, while also adding stores in our most mature markets like California,” he added.

    Scheduled to open early next month, Starfield Hanam is Shinsegae Group Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin’s ambitious project to make a retail complex that includes not only shopping venues but all sorts of entertainment- and leisure-related facilities such as a waterpark, cinema and aquarium. Korea doesn’t have such a complex.

    In addition to offering some 750 retail brands, the complex will also house Asia’s first BMW dealership that handles both the original BMW and Mini vehicles. Luxury motorcycle brand Harley Davidson will have a store that displays not only vehicles but also its clothes and accessories lines.

    Since last December, Tesla has been gearing up to enter Korea by registering the corporate name Tesla Korea Limited and sending out job advertisements for car dealers and mechanics.

    Korea’s retail giants have been sending out feelers to the prestige car company, counting on its attractiveness to the general public.
    Lotte World Mall in Jamsil District, eastern Seoul was considered a candidate to house a Tesla shop, but the negotiation fell apart early this year.

    Opening an independent dealership in Gangnam District was raised as another possible choice and Tesla is still reported to be considering that option.

    Tesla is known for a unique way of directly operating and managing its branches, instead of franchising dealerships as most carmakers do.

    Its first New York showroom, which Musk located in the funky Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn earlier this year, symbolizes the concept. It shows that a Tesla shop is not exclusively for car shoppers but is open to anyone interested in futuristic car technology. That also explains why many Tesla dealerships are in U.S. shopping malls.

    “The quality of our new locations is also improving as many shopping malls now consider us the new standard for an anchor tenant based on the amount of foot traffic that we draw and our very high revenue per square foot,” said Musk in the earnings report released Wednesday.

    If Shinsegae’s negotiations with Tesla succeed, its shop in Starfield Hanam will operate as a display until the Korean government allows the luxury electric vehicles on Korean roads

    In the meantime, Tesla’s second quarter earnings announced on Wednesday fell short of analysts’ expectations. It posted a $293 million net loss in the second quarter, a more than 60 percent drop compared to last year’s Q2 operating loss of $184 million.

     

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  • The next Korea’s largest retail multiplex

    The next Korea’s largest retail multiplex

    Shinsegae Group will open a multiplex shopping mall in Hanam in South Korea’s Gyeonggi province, around September.

    It says it will be the country’s biggest shopping multiplex with a dining area bigger than the Olympic stadium in Seoul. It will have four storeys above ground and another four below.

    As well as luxury brands, the mega-mall will even have vehicle showrooms including BMW, Hyundai and Harley Davidson.

    A Shinsegae department store and wholesale retailer E-mart Traders will bookend the mall.

    On the rooftop will be outdoor swimming pools and spas, while the fourth floor will feature a sports area with badminton, basketball and tennis courts.

    Shinsegae CEO Chung Yong-jin says the mall will be the culmination of the group’s retail know-how.

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  • Harley-Davidson Hong Kong opens new flagship

    Harley-Davidson Hong Kong opens new flagship

    Harley-Davidson Hong Kong has unveiled a new showroom in Chai Wan as part of its expansion plan in the city.

    The new showroom, covering about 9000 sqft (840 sqm), showcases the latest Harley-Davidson motorcycles, clothing and related services and products. Harley-Davidson Hong Kong is intended as a lifestyle concept store that “fully presents the value of the brand” to its customers, according to its principal, David Neilsen.

    Harley-Davidson Hong Kong Chai Wan 5

    Harley-Davidson Hong Kong Chai Wan 1

    The company describes the new outlet as “unlike any motorcycle dealership yet built in Hong Kong in quality and design”.

    Harley-Davidson Hong Kong Chai Wan

    “Hong Kong is one of the most vibrant cities in the world,” said Neilsen. “It was an exciting opportunity for us to bring Harley-Davidson’s authentic full service to the community. We believe that there is great potential, especially in the affluent youth market, for this legendary brand here in Hong Kong.

    Harley-Davidson Hong Kong Chai Wan 6

    “We are already looking for the right moment to introduce Harley-Davidson’s new Black Label line which the company has developed to suit the taste of the young generation. We believe that the new line is a great fit for the Hong Kong market and in line with the company’s global expansion plan,” Neilsen concluded.

    Harley-Davidson Hong Kong Chai Wan 3

    Harley-Davidson Hong Kong Chai Wan 4

    InvestHK advised and assisted Harley-Davidson Hong Kong with its expansion in the territory.

    Harley-Davidson Hong Kong Chai Wan 2

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