Harley Davidson seeks alliance to grow India business

Harley-Davidson Inc is scouting for a partner with a manufacturing and distribution footprint to make lightweight motorcycles for use in India and other Asian markets, a top company executive said. The Milwaukee-based company, known for its heavy touring motorcycles, said last week it would launch a 250cc to 500cc motorcycle in India to boost sales in the world`s largest two-wheeler market as it grapples with an ageing customer base and falling sales in the United States.

Industry sales are projected to grow 25 percent a year in Asia`s third-largest economy in the 250cc to 500cc segment through 2021. “We realise that we as a company have been very focussed on large heavyweight motorcycles and our expertise in the 250-500cc space needs to grow,” Marc McAllister, vice president of product portfolio at Harley-Davidson, told Reuters in an telephone interview on Friday.