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MILWAUKEE – With reportedly only 10 or so dealerships in Russia, Harley-Davidson certainly doesn’t consider the country to be any consequence when it comes to sales. Nonetheless, Harley-Davidson today suspended business in Russia and stopped shipping new motorcycles there following that country’s invasion of Ukraine last week.
“Our thoughts continue for the safety of the people of Ukraine and those impacted by the crisis,” said Harley-Davidson in a statement announcing the move.
The invasion of Ukraine was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been pictured in the past riding Harley-Davidson models. An Associated Press photo from 2010 even shows Putin riding a Harley-Davidson trike in Ukraine.
While sales of Harley-Davidson models are likely slight in Russia – the company doesn’t break out sales stats by country – the company two years ago cited the country as one of 36 countries with “high potential.” It simultaneously did not list it as a “priority.”
Europe is Harley-Davidson’s second largest market for retail sales after the United States. Edgewater Research senior analyst Chris Hodson told Reuters that models scheduled to be delivered to Russia will likely be rerouted to meet demand elsewhere.
“Russia is not that significant of a market to begin with,” Hodson said. “Any units that have been earmarked for Russia can be diverted elsewhere.”
Meanwhile, Polaris, which builds Indian motorcycles as well as ATVs and snowmobiles, has also suspended exports to Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Like Harley-Davidson, Polaris doesn’t break out sales figures by country.
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