Harley Davidson motorcycles are as American as apple pie, a part of our culture. Noted for their unique engine sound and retro styling, they have risen from near bankruptcy in the 80’s to a vibrant and profitable company.
To maintain growth, Harley has been trying to enter the Indian market but, with import tariffs nearly doubling the cost of the bikes to Indian customers, entry into that market has been a tough nut to crack. But India recently agreed to allow Harleys to be sold through dealers rather than directly to wealthy Indian consumers, a step in the right direction.
Some speculate it’s only a matter of time before exports to India become a reality. And once Harley establishes an Indian presence, look for the company to move toward manufacturing in that country. Some components are already being purchased from India so it wouldn’t be a huge leap. However, some loyal Harley enthusiasts fear that complete outsourcing might follow and that an Indian made Harley just wouldn’t be the same.
That concern led to the creation of this humorous PowerPoint illustration I received from my cousin Mike. Click on the image (requires MS PowerPoint or compatible presentation software and speakers) and follow the instructions. It’s a 2.2 Mb file, so allow ample time for it to download.