After opening its dealership in all metro cities, iconic US-based motorcycle maker Harley Davidson is now targeting smaller cities and towns to drive an annual growth rate of 25 per cent in India.
"The next step will be the tier-II and tier-III cities and towns. We need to expand there as there is a lot of demand in places like Bhubaneswar, Raipur, etc," Harley Davidson India managing director Anoop Prakash said.
As part of its strategic dealership expansion drive across the country, the company on Sunday opened its dealership in Kolkata, the first in eastern India. Besides other metros, the company already has dealerships in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chandigarh. "By the end of this year, we will be in Kochi and Goa too. Later on, we might go to Jaipur and Bhubaneswar as well," Prakash said.
With more than a thousand Harley Davidson bikes on Indian roads now after the company started their India operations in 2010, he said the company has a 40 per cent market share in the premium bike segment in the country.
"In the next five years, a year-on-year growth of 25-30 per cent looks sustainable," he said.
Famed for its distinctive designs the world over, Davidson produces premium heavyweight custom, cruiser, and touring motorcycles.
The base model starts at Rs 5.60 lakh.
To develop biking culture in India, the management has also set up the Harley Owners' Group in many cities, where the bike owners plan weekend or overnight trips with families riding their Harley Davidsons. They offer 16 models, including the popular Dyna-frame motorcycles.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
