Harley-Davidson Owners Organize ‘Dark Ride’ Rally: Bikers Protests Against Company

Harley-Davidson Owners' Group (H.O.G.) conducted protest rallies called in 14 cities in India to condemn the decision of the company to pull out of India. This includes Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Lucknow, Delhi, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Indore, Bhopal, Raipur, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai and Guwahati.

The company has issued a statement saying that it has partnered with Hero Motocorp in the country to provide support to dealers and owners in the country starting from January 1, 2021. As a result, Hero MotoCorp now holds the right to sell and service Harley-Davidson motorcycles across the country along with brand's merchandise and apparel line-up as well.

However, both dealer partner and owners are not happy with the ongoing situation in the country with the brand. As a result, they have organized a protest rally to showcase their dissatisfaction with the brand.

Indian Harely-Davidson onwers are unhappy due to the fact that they are unable to get spare parts for their premium motorcycle to get it repaired back to the running condition.

The protest highlights two key aspected of the brand's fall out in the Indian market. First, dealer-partners in India have been left in the dark about Harley-Davidson's plans to discontinue its operations in the country.

Also, the dealers speaking at a press conference organized by FADA claims that the compensation provided by the company is very less as compared to the investment made by them. They also claim that the company has backed out completely from providing any compensation to a dealer in case it transitions into a Hero dealer in future.

The American brand is reportedly offering a compensation package of Rs 1,500 per sq. ft. with a 10 per cent annual value-depreciated rate. Additionally, it is also offering six months reimbursement of the margins of sale to the dealers across the country. However, according to the dealers, the compensation package does not justify the investment and the losses incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an official statement, Harley-Davidson has assured its dealers and motorcycle owners complete support via Hero MotoCorp. The company is looking to make a smooth transition to a different business model in the country — here are more details.

Thoughts About The Harley-Davidson Owners Organizing ‘Dark Ride' Rally To Protest Against Company

The Harley-Davidson Owners Group famously called as the H.O.G, is among the largest biking community in the world, who have pledged their loyalty to the brand. However, things seem to have gone sour between the brand and its owners due to its recent decision to suspend operations in the country as a standalone company.