Harley-Davidson will scale up exports of the Street 500 and 750 motorcycles to Europe and Asia this year from its India factory, according to Anoop Prakash, Managing Director.

The Street 500 will exclusively be for exports and will not be available in the domestic market. The decision not to sell the Street 500 in India is based on market feedback. Though the market has an established presence up to 500cc bikes, market surveys have indicated that Indian buyers see the Harley-Davidson as an aspirational product offering bikes in the high powered segment, and the 500cc is not in line with the market expectations, he said.

The company started initial exports of the Street 500 and 750 to Europe last year. But the volumes will be expanded in the current year and by the year-end, "it will be available in all the markets we are in", he said. They will be exported to its major markets in the Asia Pacific, including Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines apart from two of the largest and oldest markets for the iconic US brand -- Australia and Japan, he said.

Asia Pacific, West Asia and Latin America are among the largest growing markets for Harley-Davidson.

Speaking to BusinessLine at the start of the India Bike Week celebrations which also marks the fifth anniversary of Harley-Davidson's presence in India, he said the Street 750 has emerged the market leader in the premium segment accounting for its largest volume. Harley-Davidson has sold over 8,000 bikes across its entire range and the sales trend will be in the high double digits for the next few years, he estimates.

Last year, sales were in the double digit across all segments of its product range, he said. Harley-Davidson offers a range of 12 models with eight assembled at the CKD assembly unit at Bawal in Haryana. The Bawal facility is also the production hub for both the Street 750 and 500 models.

On the expectations of the Union Budget, he hoped it announces the roll out of the GST and some reduction in excise duty. Anything that helps bring down costs will be welcome, Prakash said.

(The writer is in Goa at the invitation of Harley-Davidson. )

comment COMMENT NOW