By Harley Davidson
Bengal HOG Chapter Organises Ride To Vent Their Frustration About Harley-Davidson International Forsaking The Indian HOG Community
22 November 2020: Members of the Bengal Chapter of the HOG (Harley Owners Group) Community organized a group motorcycle-ride to Kolaghat, on NH6 about 65 km from Kolkata, on Sunday the 22 November to vent their feelings of confusion and resentment at the fallout of the abrupt announcement made by the all-American cult motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson that they were shutting down their India operations from September this year.
Riding is what the HOG members love to do the most; this time, however, the ride was to highlight what has turned out to be a very badly-planned withdrawal decision the company has tried to push through with its Indian business stakeholders. Over ten years ago, Harley-Davidson, which has a presence in nearly 100 countries, finally noticed the sizeable affluent Indian lifestyle market segment craving large-displacement motorbikes and made an entry into the country, commencing its first dealership in 2010. Since then, the company built up a nationwide network of over 30 dealerships and a vibrant HOG brotherhood of more than 25,000 riders, which is why it came as a complete shock to the entire Indian riding community when the company abruptly announced in September 2020 that it would discontinue its sales and manufacturing operations in India.
Mr.Gopi Krishna More, Director of the Bengal HOG Chapter, was scathing in his views to Prittle Prattle News: “Ups and downs of business are a fact of life. As a multinational corporation, Harley-Davidson Inc has a right to review its global operations and, if necessary, take tough business decisions. However, a big decision like this could not have been taken overnight. What is not acceptable is the hurried and unplanned manner in which a brand like Harley-Davidson has tried to implement its decision to wind up its presence in India. The company had no planning for the transition period before someone else came on board to handle its India operations. A Harley is an expensive motorcycle to buy and maintain, and we riders have a powerful emotional bond with our machines and the entire HOG brotherhood. Today a rider is unsure whether he will be able to get his bike serviced in the long-run … or whether necessary spare parts will be available. These are not bikes that can be serviced by local mechanics. The company played with all our emotions and then left us high and dry.”
Reacting to the outcry from the HOG community, Harley-Davidson hastily sought to douse fires by announcing that their existing dealer network would continue to service their customers till December 2020. They had entered into an understanding with the Indian two-wheeler manufacturer Hero Motocorp Ltd who would, after that, take over the responsibility of managing the sales and service operations for Harley-Davidson bikes in India.
However, what remains unanswered is the fundamental question – why had a proper transition plan not been put in place by the company before any withdrawal announcement was made? In terms of its direct communication, the existing dealers were supposed to service bikes till December 2020. However, the reality is that the local dealer has no inventory in the hand of parts, lubricants, and required accessories. Riders having urgent requirement of necessary spares or batteries are stuck with dead bikes in their garages. Shamefully, even people wishing to buy new bikes have had their booking monies refunded by the dealer simply because the company could not supply the bikes. And shockingly, a situation like this arose in the very next month after the company announced its withdrawal plans!
Also hanging in uncertainty is the fate of all the showroom and service employees who are facing massive insecurities about retaining their jobs. It is a bitter truth that Harley-Davidson Inc would never have dared to handle the situation the way they did in their own country USA or say in the UK. It is only because it is India that they feel they can get away with anything.
The HOG members can only hope that they can continue to ride their passion along the highways, mountains, and beaches of the country in the new order of things.
