Harley Davidson Hits The Streets of Beijing
American motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson will soon open up its first Chinese retail outlet in a very long time:
Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson is to open a dealership in Beijing, its first outlet in China in more than 50 years.
Beijing Harley-Davidson, which has teamed up with dealer Beijing Feng Hou Lun, is set to open in April.
The retail outlet, which is to be located in Beijing's Fourth Ring Road, will employ 14 people and be run by Feng Hou Lun's founder, Wan Jidong.
The dealership is to sell several models of Harley-Davidson bikes, parts, accessories and collectible goods.
Harley-Davidson lifestyle
"Customers will get a real understanding and appreciation of the Harley-Davidson lifestyle," said David Foley, the company's managing director in China.
The outlet will also provide services, rider training and events such as organised rides.
The Chinese motorcycle market has been constrained by ownership restrictions and limitations on where motorcycles can be ridden, said Harley-Davidson.
The bikes are banned within the city's Third Ring Road, a 30-mile (48km) highway which encircles Beijing's centre.
A population with a restricted but expanding disposable income will be a challenge, said the motorcycle company.
Harley-Davidson is not alone in seeing strong potential in China.
Car companies have been attracted to China by its expanding middle-class with disposable income.
Volvo is the latest company to decide to move production to China, following Volkswagen and BMW, which already have plants there.
In America, motorcycles have a definite image and impact within the culture, particulary the Harley. For many years, bikers were portrayed(fairly often inaccurartely) as nomadic criminal lowlifes due to bad press coverage generated by such gangs as the the Pagans and the infamous Hell's Angels.
My bet is that the first group to latch onto the Harley in China will be the affluent. The biker image in China will become one of a rich playboy rather than a roving felon.
x-posted from eye_on_china
Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson is to open a dealership in Beijing, its first outlet in China in more than 50 years.
Beijing Harley-Davidson, which has teamed up with dealer Beijing Feng Hou Lun, is set to open in April.
The retail outlet, which is to be located in Beijing's Fourth Ring Road, will employ 14 people and be run by Feng Hou Lun's founder, Wan Jidong.
The dealership is to sell several models of Harley-Davidson bikes, parts, accessories and collectible goods.
Harley-Davidson lifestyle
"Customers will get a real understanding and appreciation of the Harley-Davidson lifestyle," said David Foley, the company's managing director in China.
The outlet will also provide services, rider training and events such as organised rides.
The Chinese motorcycle market has been constrained by ownership restrictions and limitations on where motorcycles can be ridden, said Harley-Davidson.
The bikes are banned within the city's Third Ring Road, a 30-mile (48km) highway which encircles Beijing's centre.
A population with a restricted but expanding disposable income will be a challenge, said the motorcycle company.
Harley-Davidson is not alone in seeing strong potential in China.
Car companies have been attracted to China by its expanding middle-class with disposable income.
Volvo is the latest company to decide to move production to China, following Volkswagen and BMW, which already have plants there.
In America, motorcycles have a definite image and impact within the culture, particulary the Harley. For many years, bikers were portrayed(fairly often inaccurartely) as nomadic criminal lowlifes due to bad press coverage generated by such gangs as the the Pagans and the infamous Hell's Angels.
My bet is that the first group to latch onto the Harley in China will be the affluent. The biker image in China will become one of a rich playboy rather than a roving felon.
x-posted from eye_on_china