The Milwaukee-based company said it has established a subsidiary near Delhi and has begun scouting the country for dealers.
''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,'' said Mark Levatich, Harley's chief operating officer, in a statement.
India is the world's largest market for motorcycles behind China, but it is overwhelmingly dominated by smaller, inexpensive bikes used primarily for transportation, said Dilip Chenoy, director general of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.
It is also a market dominated by several well-entrenched Japanese and Indian manufacturers. Hero Honda, a joint-venture between Japan's Honda Motor Co. and India's Hero Group, holds the biggest market share among two-wheelers. Honda, Suzuki and Indian motorbike maker Bajaj Auto are also major players.
Still, Harley said the country's growing economy, rising middle class and expanded highway construction has created a market for leisure motorcycle riders.
''Motorbikes, scooters in India are family commuting bikes,'' Chenoy said. ''They tend to be more robustly built and the focus is on fuel economy, but there is an increasing market for leisure and high-end bikes which is beginning to happen here in India.''
"Levatich said the company would continue to push for lower tariffs but did not want to risk missing out on the rapidly growing market."
Reference original article at: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/08/27/business/AP-US-Harley-Davidson-India.html?scp=2&sq=harley%20davidson&st=cse
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