![]() | #16 | |
Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() | ![]() It is official. Harley Davidson will be represented in India by Hero Motocorp. Attaching the press release - Quote:
And Harley Davidson thinks this is somehow mutually beneficial. ![]() | |
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![]() | #17 | |
Team-BHP Support ![]() Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Gurgaon
Posts: 5,012
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I will say, it's a win-win for everyone and a very good match. I am sure, it will be a success. | |
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![]() | #18 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Calcutta
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| ![]() Wonderful news actually, also there are unconfirmed reports that Hero will also develop premium bikes under 500cc under the brand name of Harley Davidson. If that is true, then it will certainly be a mutually beneficial deal. I hope the deal works out, will be a big boost to Hero as well and Harley Davidson getting to keep itself relevant in India no less ! Last edited by ABHI_1512 : 27th October 2020 at 18:27. |
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![]() | #19 | |
Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() | ![]() Quote:
Possible, but will be extremely challenging in the long-term. The 3 C's (culture, company, customers) are as different as chalk & cheese. Hero must handle the brand carefully, sensitively and allocate the right resources to it. Once you are used to selling millions of 2-wheelers, it can get a bit boring to do just a couple of thousand every year. Even Hyundai which is used to high volumes ignores its own pricey products like the Tucson / Sonata because of their low sales. Will be very interesting to see how this pans out over 5 - 10 years. I'll give it 50 : 50 odds of success. Who knows, maybe Hero will do a "Royal Enfield" out of Harley?? After all, if there is anyone who can give Harley-Davidson some numbers, its Hero. | |
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![]() | #20 |
Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() | ![]()
Lets check the TVS - BMW arrangement. 1. BMW Motorrad isn't selling bikes in India via TVS management. 2. BMW has nothing to do with TVS network. 2. BMW didn't let TVS develop or sell entry-level motorcycles under the BMW brand name. They handled all the major processes themselves - while utilizing TVS manufacturing economies of scale. They also ensured their bikes are totally different from TVS siblings as well. Except for quality issues with the alternator - BMW completely ensured their brand is not compromised by TVS. Totally different arrangement. IMHO - Harley is not only exiting the country - but risking heavy dilution of the brand at the hands of Hero Motocorp. They have shown zero competence in all these tasks - selling high end motorcycles or developing them. Of course - there is a small chance that Hero can prove me wrong, but that would be a welcome scenario indeed! Last edited by CrAzY dRiVeR : 27th October 2020 at 19:39. |
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![]() | #21 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Ambala, Haryana
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Infractions: 0/1 (7) | ![]() This is brilliant! This might mean that we might see bigger Hero's and more affordable HDs both with the extensive Hero dealer network. Despite this, wouldn't all the earlier rumors have instilled doubts regarding the brand's(HD) future operations? I mean, all those rumours can affect the brand's sales adversely! |
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Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Madras
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![]() | #23 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 1,324
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| ![]() C'mon guys, don't cheer this! This is like Sunil Shetty (Hero) wearing a Tom Cruise mask and making South-Cut Action movies ! If it was Akshay Kumar (Bajaj), then also OK, but Harley Davidson by Hero Hiralal is too much! ROFL. |
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![]() | #24 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Chandigarh
Posts: 108
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| ![]() Will Splendour owners now be proud members of HOG! ?Hahahaha! They should rename the brand Hero-Davidson ![]() |
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![]() | #25 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Oh man. I want to see Hero, Bajaj and RE compete on the global scale and make "Made In India" a thing of pride, rather than import. We need exports, not imports. *sigh* Fingers crossed, looking forward to RE's new 650 twin cruiser. I will be passing on the Harleys, they are already overpriced even in America. Imported, I am guessing they willbe doubly overpriced. |
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![]() | #26 | |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Seattle/Pune
Posts: 981
Thanked: 3,596 Times
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This idea, may be I'm reading wrong - but sounds iffy. Much like I'll be wary of India specific iPhone developed by Vivo just labelled as Apple. | |
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![]() | #27 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Dubai / Coorg
Posts: 46
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| ![]() Well, I guess corporations never learn. What happened to the JV of Hero Honda? Today Hero is Honda's biggest competitor? Though its good for an Indian company but Harley thinking that its its mutually beneficial is like Trump thinking he will make Mexico pay for the wall in full! |
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![]() | #28 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Pune
Posts: 561
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I am greatly looking forward to the Hero HD Super Duper Splendor iSuperSmartz 115+ ![]() But seriously I don't have any high hopes from this marriage. Hero has done nothing but squandered all their efforts in the premium motorcycle segment for past 15 years. I dont think anything much has changed. At best the current owners would be assured of some support and people would still be able to buy CBU units. |
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![]() | #29 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chandigarh
Posts: 456
Thanked: 775 Times
| ![]() Not quite sure how this one will pan out to be honest. Hero should hire talent outside of its current management to ensure the culture clash does not destroy the brand of Harley. Hero CAN do it properly if they want to. Harley owners are a passionate lot and need to be treated differently. They may not cringe at the pricing but will definitely cringe at a sub-par user experience. I don't mean any offence to Hero owners; just trying to highlight that the expectations of the customer are different. And these expectations are not something that the Hero dealers or even the management have ever encountered before. If Hero blows it, then Harley-Davidson might as well be branded as Hardly-A-Davidson in India. |
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![]() | #30 |
Newbie Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Gurgaon
Posts: 8
Thanked: 34 Times
| ![]() As someone who has worked closely with Hero MotoCorp as well as a few other Auto OEMs, I can tell you one thing: Do no discount the talent pool & work ethic of Hero. Yes, Hero is an Indian company through & through - if you know what I mean - but its Supply Chain and Sales & Distribution network is extremely strong and second to none. One should take note that the R&D division of Hero born in 2013 is still in its nascent stage and running decades behind other 2W OEMs, yet still able to produce above average products (Xtreme, Xpulse & many more in pipeline). Being privy to a couple of failed arrangements that Hero made when it separated from Honda, I know that Pawan Munjal has been eyeing a collaboration with a global OEM from quite some time now and I am sure their team has done extensive due diligence and research to ensure this works. Now whether this arrangement works or not depends entirely on what Hero plans to get out of this - are they merely looking for technology sharing, or are they planning to establish a premium line of motorcycles like the Nexa model - only the future will tell. I for one am quite happy to hear the news and hope that something good comes out of this collaboration, for both customers and the companies. |
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