NEW DELHI: American cult bike maker Harley-Davidson is downsizing its operations in India and understood to have laid off workers as business has slowed down in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and outlook remains shaky.
The company is slashing production at its assembly operations at Bawal in Haryana, with one of the key labour union leaders of the region claiming that output is being severely curtailed.
Most of the steps, including global job cuts, are being initiated as part of a plan unveiled by new CEO Jochen Zeitz under ‘The Rewire’ overhaul strategy.
Sajeev Rajasekharan, the Indian MD of the company, is also being shifted to Singapore where he will get charge of India, and also a clutch of other Asian emerging markets, company sources told TOI.
When contacted, the company refused to comment on a series of questions, regarding the reduction in production and manpower. “With reference to the queries, Harley-Davidson has not released any official statement and a commentary on the same is unlikely,” a public relations firm representing the company in India, said.
Executives at Harley-Davidson refused to speak on the matter. Kuldeep Janghu, the top labour union leader at Maruti Suzuki, who is also a member of the trade union council of Bawal-Gurugram-Rewari region, claimed that production at Bawal has been reduced drastically. “Assembly at the plant has been slashed, and I have been informed about this by our council’s Bawal affiliates,” Janghu said.