About Harley Davidson Bikes
Harley-Davidson, the well-known American motorcycle brand founded in 1903, entered the Indian market in August 2009 by setting up a subsidiary in Gurgaon, Haryana. The company faced high import duties of over 100% and strict emission standards, so it began by importing fully built bikes priced between ₹6.95 lakh and ₹34.95 lakh, mainly for urban customers. Today, Harley-Davidson is successful in India through local assembly and co-development, combining its classic cruiser style with the country’s expanding premium motorcycle market.
History And Growth
Harley-Davidson opened its first dealership in Hyderabad in July 2010 with the JCBL Group, then expanded to five cities, including Delhi and Mumbai. In its first 10 years, the company sold over 25,000 bikes, helped by events such as Harley Rock Riders and annual H.O.G. rallies in Goa. Growth picked up when Harley started assembling bikes from kits in 2011, beginning with the Sportster, then adding the Dyna in 2012 and Softail in 2013. This made India Harley’s third-largest facility after the US and Brazil. Although Harley stopped direct manufacturing in 2020 because of low demand, Hero MotoCorp brought the brand back through a licensing deal, making the bikes more accessible.
Key Milestones And Developments
- 2009: Subsidiary launch amid “mango diplomacy” trade talks, easing entry.
- 2011: Bawal, Haryana assembly starts, cutting costs.
- 2014: Street 500/750 production for export; zonal rides and H.O.G. growth.
- 2020: Operations halt; Hero partnership begins for imports and X440 co-development.
- 2023: X440 launch at ₹2.4 lakh, challenging Royal Enfield in mid-size premiums.
- 2024-2025: Partnership extends for X440 variants and new models; 8,974 X440 units sold Apr-Dec 2024 (31% YoY growth).
Manufacturing Facilities
Harley-Davidson first assembled bikes in Bawal, Haryana, until the plant closed in 2020. This facility made Street models for export worldwide. After partnering with Hero MotoCorp, production moved to the ‘Garden Factory’ in Neemrana, Rajasthan, which now makes 250 X440 bikes each day and uses eco-friendly features like zero liquid discharge. The factory also produces the Hero Mavrick 440, helping save on import duties and making it easier to export more bikes in the future.
Market Position And Achievements
Harley-Davidson led India’s market for bikes over 1000cc in FY2022, holding a 37% share with 601 units sold. The X440 model helped the Hero-Harley partnership grow its segment by 77%, selling 12,188 bikes from April to December 2024 and gaining a 13% share in the 350-500cc segment. The dealership network grew to 22 full-service locations, with new ones in Kochi and Bengaluru as of March 2026. The X440 is also available at 115 Hero Premia outlets, and there are now 33 H.O.G. chapters. While global sales have dropped, India allows duty-free imports for bikes between 800cc and 1600cc, which helps strengthen the premium market.
Future Plans
Hero and Harley-Davidson have extended their partnership to include new X440 versions, like the X440T, and plan to launch a new co-developed motorcycle by the second quarter of FY26. They aim to grow their network in key enthusiast areas and may use the Neemrana factory for global exports under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. There is also a chance that the Sprint model will return globally in early 2026, which would complement the X440. The focus remains on keeping dealers strong and maintaining premium offerings
