Harley-Davidson starts bookings in India

Barely nine months after the company announced its plans to foray into the Indian market, Harley-Davidson has started bookings for its entire range of bikes from Wednesday.

The 12 models from the five family of Harley-Davidson can now be booked online or through the five appointed dealers of the company in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Bangalore.
  
The five 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle families in India are the Sportster, Dyna, VRSC, Softail and Touring and would be priced between Rs 6,95,000 and Rs 34,95,000 (ex-showroom, New Delhi).

The company has tied up with ICICI Bank as its preferred partner for financing its entire range of motorcycles in India, and under a memorandum of understanding signed between Harley-Davidson India and ICICI Bank, the latter will offer finance options of up to 85 per cent for Harley-Davidson customers at 11 per cent rate of interest for a period of up to five years.

This would translate into an EMI of Rs 12,845 for a 2010 XL883 Low Sportster motorbike.

"It has been an overwhelming response on Day 1 of the booking, as people have been waiting for years for these legendary bikes. People who have got themselves registered online will get an opportunity to test ride the bikes on invitation and can thereafter book the motorcycle with a minimum payment of Rs 50,000," Sanjay Tripathi, director (marketing), Harley-Davidson India said.

According to Tripathi, nearly 1,000 units of big bikes (800cc and above) were sold in India in 2009 and since it is one of the fastest-growing segments in India, the company will have products ranging from 883cc to 1803cc when deliveries of Harley-Davidson bikes start from middle of June.

"The economy is growing at over eight per cent and since 50 per cent of the country's population is below 35 years of age, there is huge target audience that could be our potential customers.

"Moreover, with the concept of leisure biking and bikes being used for tourism purposes fast picking up in Indian and with the rapid development of highways in the past, we hope to strongly establish our brand in the country," Tripathi added.