Harley-Davidson may have shut down production of its made-in-India Street series of motorcycles, but the iconic American motorcycle brand is looking to introduce a newer, and smaller model, but this time made in China. Reports of the model first surfaced in 2019 of Harley-Davidson and Chinese motorcycle giant Qianjiang, also the owner of the Benelli brand, getting together to create the most affordable Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and will be made specifically for emerging markets in Asia as well as other parts of the world.
Also Read: Harley-Davidson 338R Revealed In Patent Images
Patent images revealed that the Harley-Davidson 338R has a flat one-piece seat, and with a fuel-tank that is shaped like a traditional Harley.
According to latest reports, the new American-Chinese production Harley-Davidson model will be called the 338R and may soon be introduced. According to one US-based website, motorcycle.com, the 338R "may be getting closer to launch, thanks to vehicle identification number (VIN) decoder information Qianjiang submitted to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration."
Also Read: Harley-Davidson 338R Production Plans Revealed
At the front the H-D 338R has a single round headlight and an offset single pod instrument console
It's being implied that publishing the VIN decoder information with the NHTSA is evidence enough that the Harley-Davidson 338R is getting closer to production, although there's still no word on how far ahead the product development process is at right now. In 2020, spy shots of a prototype of the 338R emerged out of China, and we have reason to believe that Harley-Davidson is still bullish on the concept of the made-in-China "baby Harley," designed to be an affordable and accessible model to cater to a new range of customers.
Also Read: Hero MotoCorp To Manufacture & Market Harley-Davidson Bikes In India
Harley-Davidson 338R patent image. The production model 338R is expected to be the most affordable and accessible Harley-Davidson model, targeted to lure in a new set of customers into the brand.
The Harley-Davidson Street 750 and Street Rod models were manufactured in India, and were the brand's entry-level models, and the highest-selling Harley-Davidson bikes in India for several years. But Harley-Davidson's decision to discontinue India operations in 2020, including sales and manufacturing operations effectively put a lid on the manufacture of the Street series of bikes in India. Harley-Davidson however, did not entirely quit the Indian market, and re-started retail operations with a new business model with Hero MotoCorp, India's largest two-wheeler manufacturer.
Also Read: Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Conquers Key La Pass At 5,669 Metres Altitude
Ravi Avalur, Head, Harley-Davidson Business Unit, Hero MotoCorp was part of the group of 5 riders to reach Key La pass.
Under that partnership, Harley-Davidson has launched its new models in India, including the brand's first adventure bike, the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250, as well as the Harley-Davidson Sportster S, both based on the new Revolution Max 1250 platform. The partnership with Hero MotoCorp has also revived the Harley-Davidson brand, with the new strategy and marketing team pulling off two notable feats in India, taking the Pan America 1250 to the highest elevation any Harley motorcycle has ever been to, reaching the Key La pass in the Himalayas at an altitude of 18,600 feet (5,669 metres) above sea level. With the Sportster S, the brand achieved a record of covering 3,141 km n a 24-hours endurance test in February 2022, carried out at the test track of Hero MotoCorp's Centre for Innovation and Technology R&D centre in Jaipur.
Also Read: Harley-Davidson Sportster S Completes 24-Hours Endurance Test In India
The 24 hours endurance test was flagged off by Ravi Avalur, Head, Harley-Davidson Business Unit at Hero MotoCorp. One of the five riders of the endurance test was Malo Le Masson, Head of Global Strategy, Hero MotoCorp.
The partnership between Harley and Hero is a distribution agreement, where Hero MotoCorp will sell and service Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and also sell parts, accessories and merchandise in India. At the time of the announcement in 2020, the new business model with Hero MotoCorp also mentioned a new licensing agreement under which Hero MotoCorp will develop and sell a range of premium motorcycles under the Harley-Davidson brand name.
There has been no further news on how the licensing agreement will evolve, but the partnership with Hero MotoCorp may be the beginning of a new and exciting innings for the American brand as well. In fact, it could be Harley-Davidson's new strategy to have different partners in different countries develop different models, and to use their global network to reach what the brand has been trying for years - a completely new set of customers. The H-D 338R could well be the beginning of that strategy, and possibly, we could end up hearing something similar with the American brand's partnership with Hero MotoCorp as well in the near future. After all, India, the world's largest motorcycle market, is still ripe for more growth in the years to come.
