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| Harley-Davidson to exit world's biggest bike market | Harley-Davidson to exit world's biggest bike market |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Harley-Davidson is pulling out of India, the world's biggest motorcycle market. | Harley-Davidson is pulling out of India, the world's biggest motorcycle market. |
| The iconic US motorcycle brand is stopping manufacturing and massively scaling back its sales operations. | |
| Harley's decision comes weeks after Toyota said it wouldn't expand further in India due to the country's high tax regime. | Harley's decision comes weeks after Toyota said it wouldn't expand further in India due to the country's high tax regime. |
| The exit is a blow for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to lure or retain foreign manufacturers. | The exit is a blow for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to lure or retain foreign manufacturers. |
| Harley's departure involves $75m (£59m) in restructuring costs, around 70 redundancies and the closure of its Bawal plant in northern India. | |
| The plant was opened in 2011 but Harley-Davidson has struggled to compete with local brand Hero as well as Japan's Honda. | The plant was opened in 2011 but Harley-Davidson has struggled to compete with local brand Hero as well as Japan's Honda. |
| About 17 million motorcycles and scooters are sold each year in India. | About 17 million motorcycles and scooters are sold each year in India. |
| More setbacks | More setbacks |
| While it is cheaper than many other developing economies, India has proven a tough market to crack for foreign automakers. | While it is cheaper than many other developing economies, India has proven a tough market to crack for foreign automakers. |
| General Motors pulled out of the country in 2017 while Ford agreed last year to move most of its assets into a joint venture with Indian vehicle giant Mahindra & Mahindra. | General Motors pulled out of the country in 2017 while Ford agreed last year to move most of its assets into a joint venture with Indian vehicle giant Mahindra & Mahindra. |
| US President Donald Trump has previously complained about India's high taxes, specifically mentioning the levies placed on Harley-Davidson bikes. | US President Donald Trump has previously complained about India's high taxes, specifically mentioning the levies placed on Harley-Davidson bikes. |
| India's import tariffs were slashed by 50% but the brand has still struggled in the competitive market. | |
| Harley has also been suffering its own problems and recorded its first quarterly loss in more than a decade between April and June this year. | |
| It has been cutting hundreds of jobs under its new chief executive Jochen Zeitz and focusing on core markets and models. | It has been cutting hundreds of jobs under its new chief executive Jochen Zeitz and focusing on core markets and models. |
| Harley History | Harley History |
| The iconic US motorcycle brand was founded in 1903 and has built a very loyal customer base. It has owners' clubs all over the world. | The iconic US motorcycle brand was founded in 1903 and has built a very loyal customer base. It has owners' clubs all over the world. |
| It hit the global stage in 1969 thanks to the classic road movie Easy Rider starring Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson. | It hit the global stage in 1969 thanks to the classic road movie Easy Rider starring Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson. |
| Its bikes, nicknamed "hogs", are also made in factories in the US, Brazil and Thailand. | |
| Harley has been looking to grow the brand beyond baby boomers in the US, with smaller models and all-electric versions. |