Harley-Davidson bikes coming with Gurgaon facility

It's not just luxury carmakers; even recession-hit Western two-wheeler manufacturers are hoping to recover their fortunes in India. America's Harley-Davidson Inc announced today that it would start selling its bikes in India from next year.

The company is setting up a 'plant' in Gurgaon near Delhi to import its high-end bikes, it said in a statement. It however added that the bikes would be fully imported.

Sales will begin in 2010, the company said, adding that the company was in the process of finding dealers in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and ''Punjab''. It has appointed Anup Prakash as its Indian director.

The company will import its motorcycles, accessories and riding gear, and will evaluate how best to evolve its approach to the Indian market as its business in India grows in the long term, Prakash said.

Matthew Levatich, president and chief operating officer of Harley-Davidson, added in the statement, ''As India continues to extend its global reach, so is Harley-Davidson. We believe the company has outstanding opportunities for continued growth around the world.

''Given the rapid development of India's economy and physical infrastructure, this is exactly the right time to bring the world's greatest motorcycles to one of the world's largest motorcycling nations.''

The Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc is the holding company for the group of companies, doing business as HDMC, Buell Motorcycle Co (Buell), MV Agusta and Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS).