Harley Davidson Forty-Eight at Rs 8.5 lakh

US premium motorcycle maker Harley Davidson said on Tuesday it has launched its 1,200cc superbike 'Forty-Eight' in India, priced at Rs 850,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

This model will be available across all the Harley- Davidson dealerships, in addition to the existing model line- up of 14 bikes for 2011, Harley Davidson India said.

. . .

The company said bookings for the new offering will start from this month at its five dealerships across the country.

Last month, Harley Davidson had said it would not hike prices of its two models to be assembled in India despite an increase in import duty for completely knocked down parts.

The company, which is setting up an assembly unit at Bawal in Haryana, had said it was evaluating options in the wake of the new CKD norms, resulting in higher import duty.

. . .

In December 2010, the company had announced that the SuperLow and Iron 883 will be the first two models to be rolled out of the CKD assembly facility in Bawal in Haryana.

The bikes are priced at Rs 550,000 and Rs 650,000 (ex-showroom), respectively.

Its other 12 fully imported bikes in India are priced between Rs 779,000 and Rs 38.66 lakh (Rs 3.86 million).

. . .

In November 2010, Harley Davidson announced to start assembling bikes in India from this year.

The Indian plant will be only its second facility outside its home-base after Brazil.

The US iconic brand was allowed to enter India in 2007 with relaxed emission norms for big bikes above 800cc, while mangoes from here were allowed to be sold in America. However, It first started selling its imported bikes in India from this year.