Harley-Davidson slams the brakes on bookings for X440 in India amid huge demand

Hero MotoCorp in collaboration with Harley-Davidson has hit the brakes on taking advance bookings for their latest motorcycle, the Harley-Davidson X440, in India. The decision comes in the wake of unprecedented demand, with over 25,500 orders coming in just a month.

The Indian motorcycle giant, Hero, expressed its delight at the "overwhelming" response the X440 received since its ordering commencement. With a partnership forged with the American motorcycle legend, Hero is set to begin production of the X440 in September, aiming to start delivering the motorcycles in the subsequent month.

A remarkable 65% of the total 25,597 bookings received are for the top-tier X440 variant, priced at ₹2,69,000. Reflecting this robust demand, Hero recently raised the base price of the motorcycle by nearly 5%. This upward price adjustment indicates the strong market interest and affirms the decision to produce the bike through this collaboration.

In the endeavor to cater to the local market, motorcycle manufacturers are teaming up with Indian companies to create cost-effective models. This move ensures they can provide affordable options to the Indian consumers. Notably, Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. and Bajaj Auto Ltd. have joined forces to produce bikes under 200,000 rupees, targeting similar market segments.

The revived partnership between Hero and Harley-Davidson is poised to challenge competitors like Royal Enfield, owned by Eicher Motors Ltd. This strategic alliance comes after Harley's cessation of sales and manufacturing operations in India in 2020.

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