Dealers, owners may seek govt protection as Harley silent on future course

Chief worries are bike servicing and spares, and likely spurt in consumer cases; Industry sources say iconic bike maker may tie up with Hero for distribution and after-sales

Harley-Davidson has announced quitting India operations but is yet to assure thousands of its owners and around 35 dealerships of providing service support to the 25,000-odd bikes it has sold in the country.

The US motorcycle manufacturer on Thursday announced that quitting India operations was part of its global restructuring initiatives. 

It plans to exit international markets, where volumes and profitability have been elusive.

Its dealers, however, are anxious that they may face similar ordeal as seen when foreign companies had quit India in the past. Harely-Davidson is the fourth foreign automobile brand to shut shop in India after General Motors, MAN trucks,