Harley-Davidson To Stop Manufacturing And Sales In India, Says It's Restructuring Global Operations

Leading expensive motorbike maker Harley-Davidson said it has decided to shut its manufacturing unit in India as part of its global restructuring plan, The Economic Times report.

The United States (US) based company also said it would also discontinue the sales of its motorcycles in India.

"Between August 6, 2020 and September 23, 2020, the company approved commitments to additional restructuring actions under The Rewire related to optimising its global dealer network, exiting certain international markets, and discontinuing its sales and manufacturing operations in India," the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing in the US.

The bike maker's name had popped up several times during US President Donald's India visit in February this year as he complained of high tariffs by the Asian country. The company later successfully persuaded the Indian government to mould its tax policy that could favour the bike maker.

"The India action will include an associated workforce reduction of approximately 70 employees," Harley-Davidson said in a separate statement in India, while adding its reconfiguring is operations and market structure.

“Harley-Davidson plans to close its manufacturing facility in Bawal (Haryana) and significantly reduce the size of its sales office in Gurgaon," it said in the press release.

"The Harley-Davidson (India) dealer network will continue to serve customers through the contract term."