Harley-Davidson and Hero MotoCorp Open Two New Dealerships in India

Harley-Davidson and Hero MotoCorp have opened two new full-line dealerships in Kochi, Kerala and Bengaluru, Karnataka, bringing the brand's total dealership count in India to 22. The announcement was made on March 6, 2026, as part of the companies' ongoing retail expansion under their partnership agreement. The move signals a continued push by the two companies to deepen their footprint in India's premium motorcycle segment at a time when demand for higher-displacement bikes has been rising steadily.

Each new outlet will stock the complete Harley-Davidson range available in India, including globally sourced CBU (Completely Built Unit) models and the locally manufactured X440, X440 T, and their variants. The stores will function as 3S facilities — covering sales, service, and spares — and will also carry Harley-Davidson Genuine Merchandise and Accessories. The dealerships have been designed to reflect the latest visual identity standards of the Harley-Davidson brand, offering customers a unified retail experience consistent with the company's global showroom format.

Both locations will host a local chapter of the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.), the world's largest factory-sponsored motorcycle club. The addition of these two chapters will bring the total number of H.O.G. chapters operating in India to 33. The club functions as a community and loyalty platform, organising rides, events, and brand-led experiences for owners across the country.

To mark the openings, the two companies are co-hosting community rides in each city — referred to as Inaugural Rides — designed to bring together existing Harley-Davidson owners to celebrate the brand's arrival in each location. Bengaluru hosted its Inaugural Ride on March 1, 2026, while Kochi's ride is scheduled for March 31, 2026.

Ravi Avalur, Head of the Harley-Davidson Business Unit at Hero MotoCorp, said the openings reflect "our continued shared commitment to building a strong and engaged rider community." He noted that both Kochi and Bengaluru have longstanding riding cultures, making them natural fits for the expansion. Avalur described the broader goal as building "a strong, future-ready premium motorcycling ecosystem backed by world-class product, retail experience and aftersales infrastructure."

The two companies attribute a significant part of the network's growth to the market response to the H-D X440, a motorcycle co-developed and manufactured by Hero MotoCorp under the partnership. The X440 was positioned as an entry point into the Harley-Davidson brand for Indian consumers, and its commercial performance is said to have expanded the brand's reach beyond its traditional buyer base. A follow-up model, the X440 T — designed with enhanced rider capabilities — has since been introduced to build on that platform.

In addition to the locally made models, Harley-Davidson has also broadened its imported lineup in India. The reintroduction of the Cruiser Softail 117 range and the return of CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) models toward the end of 2025 have extended the options available to buyers seeking higher-end and more customised machines. Together, the local and imported offerings give the dealership network a wider product spread than at any previous point in the partnership.

The X440 range is sold across a dual-channel retail structure: 115 Hero Premia dealerships handle volume at the accessible end of the market, while the 22 full-line Harley-Davidson dealerships cater to buyers seeking the full brand experience, including the imported CBU models and aftermarket accessories.

Harley-Davidson and Hero MotoCorp entered into a partnership in 2020 after Harley-Davidson announced it would wind down its independent operations in India, a market it had struggled to scale profitably on its own. Under the arrangement, Hero MotoCorp took over the distribution of imported Harley-Davidson models and was also granted rights to co-develop and manufacture motorcycles under the Harley-Davidson name for the Indian market. The deal gave Harley-Davidson continued access to one of the world's largest two-wheeler markets without the overhead of running a standalone business, while Hero MotoCorp gained association with a globally recognised premium brand.

India's premium motorcycle segment — loosely defined as bikes above 250cc — has grown considerably in recent years, driven by rising incomes, changing rider preferences, and an expanding base of younger buyers willing to spend more on lifestyle-oriented vehicles. Several global manufacturers have increased their focus on the segment, intensifying competition in the space where Harley-Davidson and Hero MotoCorp are now jointly positioned.

Hero MotoCorp, headquartered in New Delhi, is the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters by volume, reporting approximately $5 billion in annual revenue and operating across 52 countries. It runs eight manufacturing facilities and two research and development centres. Harley-Davidson, founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1903, is one of the most established names in global motorcycling and has been present in the Indian market in various forms for over a decade.