Harley-Davidson may make in India to sell globally, says CEO Jochen Zeitz
Harley-Davidson, which last week began its second innings in India by launching its most affordable bike to date in partnership with Hero MotoCorp, might use the facilities here to sell in other global markets, its CEO Jochen Zeitz told ET. Zeitz, on his first visit to India after taking over as Harley-Davidson CEO, said the company's immediate priority, however, is to strengthen local sales with the HD X440, the bike Harley co-created with Hero. «We were manufacturing our 750cc also for the international market (here), so I am not ruling that out,» Zeitz said, referring to India's export potential for the company.
«But right now, the focus is really to make sure that the product is successful in India. From there we can build and come up with other ideas.» Harley-Davidson stopped manufacturing operations in India in 2020. The company, however, reached an agreement with Hero MotoCorp to continue sales of its imported products in the country.
The X440 — the first product jointly developed by the two companies — is priced around ₹2.3 lakh, and intends to challenge the dominance of Royal Enfield in the premium bike category where operating profit margins often exceed those for software exports. Hero MotoCorp will make the X440 for Harley for the Indian market. Harley-Davidson's renewed focus on the Indian market comes at a time when Washington and New Delhi are increasing engagement through a slew of commercial and defence deals to counter China's commercial influence on the global stage.
«I look at the two most populous markets in the world as an opportunity. You build your roots now in order to grow with the economy and that is why we are here really,» he said. But in countries such as India where the company does not
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