Harley Is New The Hero Of The 1000cc Segment In India

From a company on the verge of bankruptcy to making a 180-degree turnaround, Harley-Davidson is a case study worth reading by all auto enthusiasts. The American brand has enjoyed a decent fan following in India since 2009, but due to reasons like stagnant sales, stringent emissions norms and the pandemic, the brand decided to down the shutters in 2020. Fortunately, however, with its new alliance with Indian two-wheeler giant Hero MotoCorp, it has regained momentum in the country with its FY ’22 sales dominating the 1000cc segment in India.

Big 1000cc, premium motorcycle sales for most brands in India usually tally in triple digits. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), despite the COVID-19 challenges, Harley-Davidson sold 601 motorcycles in India in FY ‘22. A huge portion of that number (531 units) were 1000cc-and-over motorcycles like the new Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special among others. This entitles the Milwaukee-based bikemaker to a 37 percent market share in FY ‘22, outdoing its FY ‘21 sales numbers of only 206 units with a share of 27 percent.

In comparison, Triumph managed to sell 336 units in India, Kawasaki to the tune of 283 and Honda just 71 units. A great deal of Harley’s brand turnaround in India has to do with its alliance with Hero MotoCorp which now has 13 exclusive dealerships of the premium legacy brand in India. With the trust sentiment high given the dealership network is back in full swing and availability of parts no longer a concern, the brand is raking in the numbers. Harley has also introduced the Pan America 1250, its first full-size adventure bike. Hence, the brand’s push in a new direction is clearly being received well by potential buyers in the country.

Harley-Davidson has recently introduced the new 2022 Nightster, which is powered by a smaller, 975cc Revolution Max V-Twin engine, and it will be coming to India very soon. And for the more budget-conscious buyers, the company is also looking to introduce a 500cc motorcycle which looks similar to the Harley-Davidson Sportster S. 

For the EV segment it has also launched an affordable electric motorcycle- LiveWire S2 Del Mar, which sold out quicker than hotcakes in the United States of America. Expect Harley to launch the electric bike here later next year.