Harley-Davidson to build small bikes in China

A few months ago, Harley-Davidson posted about its intention of making their most affordable motorcycle with a South Asian company. Now, the company has finally disclosed their big alliance with Qianjang Motorcycle, a Chinese company.

As a part of this new alliance, both the companies will co-develop their most affordable motorcycle, a 338cc naked bike that will be made in China and exported to the rest of the world. The American brand decided to go with Qianjang as it has experience in developing premium small displacement bikes, an established supply base and ability to meet customer requirements.

The American brand has released a prototype picture of its upcoming 338cc motorcycle. Harley-Davidson has ditched its traditional cruiser styling for a more modern streetfighter look. The bike seems to be built around a trellis frame, and a parallel-twin liquid cooled engine doing the job. Other bits like upside-down front forks, dual discs at the front and an all LED-headlamp setup can be seen in the released pictures. However, production model features may vary.

This new unnamed motorcycle will be first launched in China by the end of 2020, followed by launches in other Asian markets. We are expecting this bike to make its India debut in early 2021, and could be assembled at the company’s Haryana facility. By doing this, the company will be able to save on duties which will directly impact its pricing.