A few days ago it was reported that American bikemaker Harley Davidson is about to say goodbye to the Indian market. However, speculation was also being made about Hero MotoCorp to takeover Harley's Indian operations. Now the news has been confirmed as the two manufacturers have announced a strategic partnership for our market.
Under this joint venture, the world’s largest bikemaker, Hero MotoCorp will handle the sales and services operations of Harley-Davidson in India along with the distribution of genuine parts, accessories, riding gear, and official merchandise.
According to the agreement, the Hero will be completely accountable for developing a range of premium motorcycles under the Harley-Davidson mark in the country. It clearly means that Harley bikes will become more affordable now, as they will be locally manufactured. However, it is not clear whether the two companies will also share their technology & platforms with each other under this agreement. Hopefully, more details related to this agreement will be revealed soon.
Author's Take
The agreement between Hero and Harley could serve in the American manufacturer's interest in the Indian market. This is not only good news for existing Harley customers, but it may also increase Harley's market acceptance in the country. We hope that this JV will achieve new dimensions like the partnership of Bajaj and KTM.
