dealership

Harley-Davidson to shut sales and manufacturing operations in India

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from https://indianexpress.com and https://www.reuters.com The announcement comes two months after Harley unveiled a strategy to shift focus back to more profitable motorcycles and core markets such as the United States. Harley-Davidson Inc said on Thursday it would discontinue its sales and manufacturing operations in India, effectively abandoning the world’s biggest motorcycle market after a decade of unsuccessful efforts to gain a foothold. Harley had spent recent months moving dealerships in the country to cheaper locations, and the announcement followed speculation in Indian media a month ago that executives had played down. The move involves $75 million in restructuring costs, some 70 redundancies and the closure of its Bawal plant, walking away from a market worth about 17 million bike and scooter sales a year. It will retain only a scaled-down sales office in Gurgaon, south of New Delhi. The departure is also the latest setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategy to encourage domestic manufacturing that would keep more of the fruits of a gigantic home consumer market in India. Harley has been scrambling for years to grow sales beyond baby boomers in the United States and has not posted retail sales growth there in the past 14 quarters. Chief Executive Officer Jochen Zeitz, who took the reins at the company in February, unveiled a major “Rewire” in July to boost profits by reducing Harley’s product portfolio by 30% and investing in 50 markets with growth potential in North America, Europe and parts of Asia Pacific. India was one of the markets the company at that point committed to investing in more heavily. Thursday’s statement said the move to leave had been pushed through since Aug. 6. Harley said it now expects total restructuring costs of about $169 million in 2020, but warned that the restructuring program – referred to […]

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End of the road for Hawkesbury’s legendary Harley Davidson dealership

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from https://www.cbc.ca For 41 years, Goulet Motosports a gathering place for bikers, non-bikers alike An iconic motorcycle shop in Hawkesbury, Ont., has reached the end of the road after a ride that spanned more than four decades. Goulet Motosports, a Harley Davidson dealership, will close Oct. 31. “It is with nostalgia that I write this but also with pride to have had the chance to lead a retailer that has grown so much in our small town,” store owner Sophie Goulet wrote in a French post on the company’s Facebook page on Thursday. “What a wild and exciting ride it has been, meeting wonderful people, attending meetings, travelling to many cities and much more.” Goulet, who took ownership of the family business from her parents in 2001, said the decision to close wasn’t linked to the performance of the dealership, but is the result of weak regional demand for motorcycles. The news sent shock waves through the small town around 95 kilometres east of Ottawa and beyond. Hundreds of people responded to the Goulet’s Facebook post, with many expressing their sadness and sharing stories of visiting the store. Yves Charlebois, who has been working at the dealership for eight of its more than 40 years, said it served as a gathering place for bikers and non-bikers alike. “Just to think about that, the fact that … this place is going to be empty and nothing in it and no customers and no bikers coming in town, I just can’t get my head over it,” he said. “It’s much more than a dealership.” Goulet Motosports is well-established in the community, sponsoring community events such as the Hawkesbury Bike Fest, which brings together Harley enthusiasts from far and wide. The dealership also raises money for local institutions, such as the Hawkesbury General

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Indian Motorcycle 2020 Sturgis Update

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Indian Motorcycle will be at the 80th Sturgis Rally. Due to the current circumstances, there will be no official owners ride or event. If you are planning to attend Sturgis, here are some additional details: Sturgis patch will be available at the dealership Demos will be available at the dealership and on Lazelle Street VIP Demos for owners will be at the dealership Owners that sign up for Elite Status at the dealership during Sturgis will get a special gift while supplies last Ride safe & we hope to see you at the Sturgis owners event in 2021! This year at the 80th Sturgis Rally, Indian Motorcycle has a VIP Demo Experience that is only for our owners. You have to sign up online before the event to reserve your spot. An invite-only VIP demo experience for Indian Motorcycle Owners. About this Event – August 7 to 15. Because you’re an Indian Motorcycle Owner, you’ve been invited to an exclusive VIP Demo Experience hosted by Indian Motorcycle at the Sturgis Rally. With this invite you get: – A thorough walk around of whatever model you choose to ride – A self-guided, one-hour demo ride – A special gift Date: VIP Demos are available almost every morning of the Sturgis Rally from 7:30 – 8:30am. *Please arrive early. Where: The Indian Motorcycle Sturgis dealership, 2130 Main St, Sturgis, SD 57785 To sign up for the VIP Demo Experience, click the green register button above to sign up for a motorcycle to demo (while they last). There is limited availability, so please RSVP quickly! When: Arrive 15 minutes early. Kickstands up at 7:30 am and return at 8:30 am. Bikes that are available to reserve: 3 – Indian Challengers 2 – Indian Chieftains 2 – FTR 1200s 1 – Indian Roadmaster 1

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Harley-Davidson pulls Facebook ads, severs ties with Tennessee dealership over racist posting

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by Rick Barrett from https://www.tennessean.com Harley-Davidson Inc. has pulled its Facebook ads and severed ties with one of its dealerships in response to hateful comments made on social media. Hundreds of companies, including Harley, are pausing Facebook advertising this month as part of a larger boycott. “Racism, hate or intolerance have no place in the Harley-Davidson community or anywhere — in person or online. We are pausing our Facebook ads in July to stand in support of efforts to stop the spread of hateful comment,” Harley says on its website. The world’s largest manufacturer of heavyweight motorcycles also severed ties with Abernathy’s Cycle in Union City, Tennessee, following an alleged racist posting on the dealership’s Facebook page. Screen shots, shared on social media, showed it said, “I’m sick of this black lives matter,” and those involved in the protests should go “back to Africa and stay.” Dealership owner Russell Abernathy II denied making the Facebook post and said he rejected its content. “And by extension, Abernathy’s Harley-Davidson have and always will be welcoming to all riders regardless of race. The derogatory nature of the comment in no way aligns with my personal beliefs or that of Harley-Davidson Motor Co. It personally saddens me that this post has caused such wide-reaching pain to those that have already been subject to so many social injustices. I vow to make certain that Abernathy’s Harley-Davidson provides a positive environment of diversity, equality and inclusion for all,” the dealership says on its website. But for now, anyway, Harley says Abernathy’s “will no longer be part of our dealer network.”

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Royal Enfield launches their first two-level movable dealership

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by Pearl Daniels from https://www.rushlane.com This two level movable dealership has the complete range of Royal Enfield motorcycles on display Royal Enfield has introduced a novel way to display and sell its range of bikes in Thailand. A movable dealership has been set up at the Chiang Rai, Thailand region which is constructed out of shipping containers so as to allow it to be completely dismantled and moved to a different location. This is a two level showroom that boasts of a novel layout with the display area that showcased the entire range of Royal Enfield motorcycles while RE branded riding gear is also showcased on another level. The new store is a part of the Golden Triangle region bordering Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. It is currently open to customers in the Chiang Rai area. Royal Enfield commenced sale of motorcycles in Thailand four years ago. It offers its complete range of motorcycles and currently has 9 showrooms and 6 service centers in the country. There is also an assembly plant in Thailand which commenced operations in June 2019. It may be recalled that the Royal Enfield 650 twins were initially launched in this South East Asian market. Though this is a movable showroom, it is very much like any other RE showroom around the globe. The exteriors as well as interiors are decorated in the same global theme of Royal Enfield. Exteriors are finished in the same colours, while on the inside you will find motorcycle display area, accessories, etc. The idea behind such an initiative is to keep the costs low and have the freedom to set up your showroom in different areas – depending on business / time of the year. These new showrooms are easy to setup, and dismantle – in short period of time. They

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Harley-Davidson to hold virtual annual meeting, acting CEO says More Roads plan is working

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by Margaret Naczek from https://www.bizjournals.com Amid the instability of the COVID-19 pandemic, Harley-Davidson Inc.’s acting president and CEO Jochen Zeitz reflected back on the advancements made in the More Roads to Harley-Davidson strategy in 2019. 2020 already was a pivotal year in the company’s strategic plan to grow more riders and expand dealership reach, but the year became a lot more crucial as the Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) looks to also overcome the difficulties during a pandemic. With concerns over public health and travel restrictions, Harley-Davidson organized its 2020 annual shareholders meeting to be conducted virtually via a live audio webcast on May 21, 2020. The annual meeting will elect nine directors to the board, approve the compensation of the company’s executive officers, approve amendments to the company’s restated articles of incorporation, approve the company’s 2020 incentive stock plan and ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as Harley-Davidson’s independent registered public accounting firm. “As we embark on our next chapter and seek new leadership, we are steadfast in our belief that we have both much to be proud of and much to look forward to,” Zeitz said in his letter to shareholders. On Feb. 28, Harley-Davidson announced former CEO Matt Levatich had stepped down and Zeitz would assume the role of acting president and CEO. The company is currently engaged in a search for new CEO. In his letter to shareholders, Zeitz shared some of the company’s accomplishments in 2019. While U.S. motorcycle sales continue to decline over consecutive quarters, Zeitz noted that in 2019 the rate of decline significantly tempered. “After four years of accelerating declines, such improvement was supported by our More Roads actions, notably in how we’re Amplifying our Brand and delivering on our New Products catalysts for growth,” Zeitz said in the letter. Recommended Some

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A soldier tried to buy a motorcycle in Anchorage. His lawyer says he was targeted by a ‘yo-yo scam’

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by Zachariah Hughes from https://www.alaskapublic.org This past August, Army Specialist Austin Deehan bought a 2014 Harley Davidson from a dealership in south Anchorage. “It felt great. It was a beautiful bike,” Deehan said. He made a $2,599 down payment, and financed the remaining $10,630 with at a decent interest rate. But 19 days later, when he called the bank about setting up monthly payments, they told him the loan had never been approved. That, Deehan said, is when he knew something was wrong. On Tuesday, Deehan filed a civil case in state Superior Court alleging misconduct by a local car dealership over a financial arrangement critics call a “yo-yo scam.” Though hardly a blockbuster piece of litigation, it highlights something federal regulators, lawyers, and financial services observers say is commonplace: nationally, military service members are some of the most commonly targeted demographics for credit and financing scams. When Deehan spoke to the bank he believed was financing his loan, they told him the denial was because his application was missing paperwork. He went back to the dealership, Chevrolet of South Anchorage, where he was told that since the financing deal didn’t go through he would need to take out a more expensive loan, he said. “They gave me two options: Either I could refinance the bike with a higher interest rate, or I could return the motorcycle and lose my whole down payment,” Deehan said. That’s when Deehan sought out legal assistance at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where he is stationed. His complaint was filed by the Northern Justice Initiative, a private firm that handles civil rights cases. According to Nick Feronti, one of the lawyers on the case, the dealership wrongly told Deehan that if he returned the motorcycle the company would keep the full balance of the down payment,

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Yamaha Announces Price and Color Information for 2021 Ténéré 700

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Arrival at Dealerships Expected in Early Summer of 2020 MARIETTA, Ga. – November 22, 2019 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, today announced two more model colors for the 2021 Ténéré 700 Adventure Touring motorcycle along with suggested retail pricing and an update for expected delivery timing. In addition to the previously announced Ceramic Ice color, Matte Black and Intensity White color schemes will be available, with all three models carrying an MSRP of $9,999. A complete lineup of Yamaha Genuine Accessories for the 2021 Ténéré 700 is currently in development, and Yamaha dealers will begin receiving both motorcycle and accessory inventory in the early summer of 2020. Anyone interested in purchasing the lightweight, go-anywhere Ténéré 700 can register to receive more information and updates from Yamaha by visiting https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/tenere-700-ims. The Next Horizon is yours With a spirit of adventure embedded in their DNA, Yamaha Adventure bikes are rugged, tough, and reliable. Each Ténéré model in the Adventure Touring segment opens up the possibilities of endless travel and enables riders to discover a feeling of utter freedom where the only limits exist within a rider’s imagination. To find out more about the 2021 Ténéré 700, visit https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/adventure-touring/models/tenere-700.

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Harley struggles to fire up new generation of riders with electric bike debut

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by Rajesh Kumar Singh from https://www.reuters.com/ CHICAGO (Reuters) – Harley-Davidson Inc (HOG.N) is betting on electric motorcycles to attract the next generation of younger and more environmentally conscious riders to reverse declining U.S. sales. But as Harley ships its first “LiveWire” bikes – priced at $29,799 – to dealers, there is little evidence the 116-year-old brand is catching on with new young customers. The problem lies mostly with this “super-premium” product’s price. The bike costs nearly as much as a Tesla Model 3, and aims for a market that does not really exist: young, “green” and affluent first-time motorcyclists. The sleek sport bike has been available for preorder in the United States since January. However, the bulk of the orders are coming in from existing and old riders, according to interviews with 40 of the 150 dealerships nationwide that are carrying the bike this year. The dealers Reuters spoke with account for little over a quarter of LiveWire dealerships and are spread across Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, California, Nevada, New Jersey and New York. Harley has for years failed to increase sales in the United States, its top market accounting for more than half of its motorcycles sold. As its tattooed, baby-boomer base ages, the Milwaukee-based company is finding it challenging to woo new customers. In 2018, Harley posted the steepest sales decline in four years in the United States. U.S. sales are tipped to fall again this year. Harley Davidson’s U.S. Retail Sales Grappling with an ageing customer base and the waning charm for its big bikes, Harley has failed to post sales growth in the United States – its biggest market – in the past four years. The heavyweight motorcycle maker’s stock price has declined by 42% in the past five years. By comparison, the S&P 500

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Paris Harley-Davidson, Adam Sandoval set new world record

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by Macon Atkinson from http://theparisnews.com Paris Harley-Davidson and philanthropist Adam Sandoval have set a new Guinness World Record for continuous Harley-Davidson motorcycles on parade. In an event dubbed Bring it Home 2019, 3,497 motorcyclists from across the country rode their Harley Davidson bikes through Paris on a 3.5 mile ride, the Guinness official announced. The record has been taken from Hellas Motorcycle Club of Patras, Greece, which previously held the record set May 22, 2010, with 2,404 Harley-Davidsons making a 2.8-mile trip. Paris’s parade raised money for Motorcycle Missions, a nonprofit that helps first responders with PTSD. The $15 per bike registration fee was donated entirely to the nonprofit, with over 3,400 pre-registrations, said event organizer Molly Beaudin, who is also a dealer development manager for Paris Harley-Davidson. “I don’t even know what to say. Let’s hear it for America. We officially brought it home,” Sandoval said. See Sunday’s edition of The Paris News for more coverage of the parade.

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