H-D gaining a foothold in Middle East
Once expatriates were the lifeblood of the American maker in the Middle East, but now the dynamics have changed quite considerablyHarley-Davidson has seen a dramatic rise in the number of Arab nationals buying its motorcycles, according to a report in a Middle East business website.
Once, Harley-Davidson’s main form of income in the Middle East was from expatriates based there, but now the popularity of the brand and its lifestyle is fast picking up among Arabs.
Five years ago the majority of members for the region’s Harley Owners Group (HOG) were expatriates, but now more than 75 percent are Arab.
“If you were to back a few years I think you would say it was an expat business. But that’s changed massively. Our (dealership) partners are saying that ….more than half of their business, or 75 percent plus, is now with local customers so there is a real engagement in the culture,” Rob Lindley, managing director and vice president for Harley-Davidson’s Europe, Middle East and Africa operations, told www.arabianbusiness.com.
Year to date, H-D has seen a 19 percent increase in sales compared to 2010 and plans to open dealerships in Libya, Pakistan, Iraq and Algeria.
Last year the manufacturer, which has 15 dealerships in the Middle East and North Africa, opened its first subsidiary office in the UAE to oversee growth in the region.
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