American bikemaker Harley-Davidson has no plans to launch its entry level Street 500 motorcycle in India. The company launched the higher powered Street 750 sibling in 2014 at 4 lakh making it the cheapest Harley-Davidson in India. But expectations were that the Street 500 would follow soon and widen their customer base in the lower end of the market. The motorcycle was unveiled along with the 750 at the 2013 EICMA show in Milan.


Marc McAllister, MD, Harley-Davidson Asia Pacific says, "It doesn't fit in the Indian market. The Street 750 is doing so well. It really is attracting the customers we are looking for so there is no need." He adds, "We are building the Street 500 in our Indian plant for Indonesia and Australia because it fits a riders need, because of displacement rules in those two markets. At the moment we continue to evaluate where the right place for the product is."


Harley-Davidson has currently sold over 12,000 motorcycles in India since 2010 and has grown in healthy double digits. It currently operates 21 dealers in India and clocks 6,000 members as part of the Harley Owners Group (HOG).


McAllister says, "In the Asia-Pacific scene India is tremendously important. It's a big part of our growth. It continues to drive our growth in Asia-Pac so it is key for us." On the Steet 750, Marc says, "The Harley Street 750 was launched to be a more accessible Harley for the younger urban rider all across the planet, but here in India it is perfect for the large urban areas. It represents and helps people ride here. Lighter, nimbler and water cooled and so in 33 degrees doesn't get too hot. It has gone out and taken strength to strength not only here in India. We ship that bike all across Asia, Europe and it has been tremendously successful everywhere we have launched it."


So the Street 500 will be not part of the India strategy at least for now but expect Harley-Davidson to rethink that plan in a few years.