Harley-Davidson

ByRajiv

Harley-DavidsonIs often abbreviated H-

D or Harley, is an American motorcycle

manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee,

Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century. The company

sells heavyweight motorcycles designed

for cruising on the highway.

Introduction

Current Harley-Davidson motorcycles reflect the styles of classic Harley designs. Harley-Davidson sustains a loyal brand community which keeps active through clubs, events, and a museum. Licensing of the Harley-Davidson brand and logo accounted for $40 million (0.8%) of the company's net revenue in 2010. Company name was the combination of 2 friends Harley & Davidson.

In 1901, William S. Harley, age 21, drew up plans for a small engine with a displacement of 7.07 cubic inches (116 cc) and four-inch (102 mm) flywheels.

Over the next two years, Harley and his childhood friend Arthur Davidson labored on their motor-bicycle using the northside Milwaukee machine shop at the home of their friend, Henry Melk. It was finished in 1903.

Organisational Structure & Size

Harley and the Davidson's quickly wrote off their first motor-bicycle as a valuable learning experiment.

In January 1905, small advertisements were placed in the "Automobile and Cycle Trade Journal" that offered bare Harley-Davidson engines to the do-it-yourself trade.

In 1906, Harley and the Davidson brothers built their first factory on Chestnut Street. This location remains Harley-Davidson's corporate headquarters' today.

The company produced about 50 motorcycles that year.

In 1911, an improved V-Twin model was introduced. With a displacement of 49.48 cubic inches (811 cc), the 1911 V-Twin was smaller than earlier twins, but gave better performance.

In 1917, the United States entered World War I & the military demanded motorcycles.

World War I was the first time the motorcycle had been adopted for combat service. Harley-Davidson provided about 15,000 machines to the military forces during World War I.

By 1920, Harley-Davidson was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. Their motorcycles were sold by dealers in 67 countries. Production was 28,189 machines.

In 1921, a Harley-Davidson, ridden by Otto Walker, was the first motorcycle ever to win a race at an average speed of over 100 mph (160 km/h).

World War I

Organizational Technology

The late summer of 1929, Harley-Davidson introduced its 45 cubic inches (737 cc) flathead V-Twin to compete with the Indian 101 Scout and the Excelsior Super X.

The Japanese license-holder severed its business relations with Harley-Davidson in 1936 and continued manufacturing the VL under the Rikuo name. World War II

Harley-Davidson again produced large numbers of motorcycles for the US Army in World War II

As part of war reparations, Harley-Davidson acquired the design of a small German motorcycle, the DKW RT 125, which they adapted, manufactured, and sold from 1948 to 1966.

Harley-Davidson continued making two-stroke motorcycles there until 1978

By 1990, with the introduction of the "Fat Boy", Harley once again became the sales leader in the heavyweight (over 750 cc) market. [Fat Boy name was a combination of the names of the atomic bombs (Fat Man and Little Boy) that were dropped on Nagasaki ]

In 2000, Ford Motor Company added a Harley-Davidson edition to the Ford F-Series

Steps towards export to India

In August 2009, Harley-Davidson announced plans to enter the market in India, it expects to start selling its motorcycles in 2010.

The company has established a subsidiary to be located in Gurgaon, near Delhi.

Harley Davidson is introducing 12 models in India from the range of five motorcycle families, namely Sportster, Dyna, VRSC, Softail and CVO. Harley Davidson would have five dealerships (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chandigarh) with the aim of increasing the dealerships to more than 20 in the next five years.

Goals & Strategies

November 2010, Harley-Davidson said that it will start an assembly facility for complete knock down (CKD) kits of its motorcycles in India by the first half of 2011, making it only the second CKD facility outside the US.

Awards Harley-Davidson received two Army-Navy ‘E’ Awards, one in 1943 and the other in 1945, which were awarded for Excellence in Production.Silver Bar & Shield in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and the Service Excellence Award in 2003. 

Platinum Bar & Shield Circle of Distinction Award for the year 2010

Best Overall Company by Business Excellence in August 2011

2004 Service Excellence Award for the Western Region & 2004 Outstanding Dealer Supporter Award for outstanding dealer supporter.

2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES

Few models of 2

012 are.,