Harley-Davidson makes S'pore Asia-Pacific HQ

[deckard]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/corporatenews/view/1129928/1/.html

 

SINGAPORE: Harley-Davidson Motor Company has made Singapore its headquarters for its operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

The Milwaukee-based company said the move was part of its bid to beef up its dealership in the region and rack up sales outside of the US.

 

Harley-Davidson's presence in Asia spans nearly a hundred years.

 

The company said it shipped 222,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles to dealers and distributors globally last year.

 

In addition, retail sales in the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 9.4 per cent of that sales volume.

 

Its decision to finally set up a regional headquarters in Singapore underscores its confidence that business in the region would continue to be brisk despite recent setback from the disaster in Japan.

 

The company has hired 20 employees, 19 of them are locals, for its regional headquarters here.

 

Harley-Davidson's vice-president and managing director for Asia Pacific David Foley said: "The regional business has been handled from our headquarters at Milwaukee.

 

"And we made a decision when we decided to commit to growing our business faster globally now that we want to be in the region.

 

"We picked Singapore because of the strong economy, the access to talent which is the most important thing that we wanted in order to find people that are going to be able to reach out to customers and support the operations that we're going for".

 

The company said the region would be an important driver in pumping sales outside of the US to exceed 40 per cent of the total by 2014.

 

Harley-Davidson has around 300 dealers across the region.

 

It is adding 100 to 150 new dealers across the globe as part of its expansion.

 

Company officials said they are also studying the possibility of making the region a production hub for Harley Davidson motorcycles.

 

-CNA/wk

 

 

BIG NEWS FOR HARLEY RIDERS?

[jamez]

The only thing I see from this is that when there are anniversary celebrations, it will be held in Singapore since the regional headquarter is here?

[TWdude26]

does this oso means a better showroom with more bikes and a better parts inventory? : )

[jamez]

does this oso means a better showroom with more bikes and a better parts inventory? : )

 

Making the region a production hub for parts means cheaper prices for us?

[deckard]

maybe cheaper harleys

 

still waiting for a sportster 125