Harley Davidson poised for sales boom?

HARLEY-DAVIDSON is poised to enjoy a sales boom as motorcycles imported from its Thailand plant are available for up to RM40,000 cheaper than those imported from the United States.

Harley-Davidson Inc emerging markets district manager (Asia Pacific) Koh Jyh Woei said response from Harley-Davidson enthusiasts to the bikes from the Thai plant has been positive.

In 2017, Harley-Davidson had said it would build a plant in Thailand, a major Asian automotive hub, to serve the growing Southeast Asian market.

“We have been getting steady orders for the bikes here in Malaysia. We do not have any figures at the moment and will see conclusive and official numbers only at the end of the year.

“However, based on the positive reception from our custom- ers, we are sure the sales will go up,” he said after the reopening of the Penang Harley-Davidson centre at Autocity Juru on mainland Penang earlier this week.

The 6,000 sq ft centre in Jalan Perusahan is operated by GB Motorcycle Sdn Bhd and is a partnership between Goh Brothers Group and Kheok Hock Seng. The centre includes a showroom, merchandise corner and a service centre.

Meanwhile, Goh Brothers group director Goh Kian Sin said Penang was considered the main city for Harley Davidson enthusiasts in the northern region.

“The location of the centre makes it accessible to northerners and we will work hard to meet the needs of our customers,” he said, adding that it took them six months to set up the RM6 million centre, the third in Malaysia.

Goh said the centre would also showcase the 14 bikes pro- duced at Harley Davidson’s new plant in Thailand, adding that customers can expect substantial savings.

“We are excited and looking forward to much higher sales. In fact, we have already received many orders, include Sportster and Soft Tails,” he said, noting that there was almost a RM40,000 difference in prices for some bikes manufactured at the Thailand plant and those from the United States plants.