What's H-D up to now ? | GTAMotorcycle.com

What's H-D up to now ?

TK4

TK4

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(Vaughan, ON) August 1, 2019 – Harley-Davidson Canada has announced the appointment of Scott Winhold as Managing Director. Winhold is set to lead the iconic motorcycle brand into the future, supporting an accelerated growth plan focusing on new products, broader access and a stronger dealer network across Canada.

“Harley-Davidson is the category leader in motorcycles with a strong Dealer Network in Canada and a passionate and loyal customer base,” says Winhold. “I look forward to contributing to the future success of this incredible brand and to help build the next generation of Harley-Davidson riders here in Canada.”

Winhold is a proven leader bringing with him 20 years of experience in Canada’s automotive sector. He believes in maintaining positive dealer relationships, striving to deliver the highest level of customer experience and constantly adapting to the changing trends of our industry, all of which will lead to positive business results. Originally from Stratford Ontario, his career has taken him all over the country where he has lived and worked in many Canadian provinces. Winhold joins H-D Canada from Porsche Canada where he led the network development department in preparing for the future changes to the automotive retail model. Prior to that, he worked in various roles from sales to marketing supporting dealer success for automotive manufacturers including Kia, BMW and General Motors.

“We’re excited to have Scott Winhold leading our Canadian market,” says Andy Benka, Vice President, Developed Markets. “His previous experience aligns with our global strategy and reinforces the spirit of the brand and our commitment to our loyal family of riders. It will be great to have him in the driver’s seat alongside the incredible network of employees and dealers already established in Canada to move the brand forward.”

Winhold joins H-D Canada following the company’s announcement last year of its accelerated growth strategy called “More Roads to Harley-Davidson”. This plan aims to build the next generation of riders globally and supports the company’s 2027 objectives with increased focus on strategic investment to reinvigorate the U.S. business while accelerating the pace of international growth.
 
It looks like they want someone to fix up the dealer network, not the bikes. Probably a good strategic move, HD dealers are the tail that waggs the dog when it comes to new products. The auto industry has more experience managing dealers, maybe this guy can get them to sell more than Roadkings and Sportsters.
 
HD dealerships are big, very nice and well capitalized
for the most part
the one in Kingston doesn't fit that mold tho

and any time I've gone into one
the staff have been terrific

last new bike I bought - the FJ09
was from a dealer operating out of a quonset hut
located on his back 40

bet he sells more Yamaha's in a year than HD Kingston sells cruisers
the product and the aging demographic are the problems

lifestyle branding works for booze and cigarettes
don't think it's working too well with 800lb bikes and 50's technology
 
HD's aren't desirable to people buying bikes now, good luck changing that. HD needs a miracle.
 
Indian on the other hand seems to be heading in the right direction, the ftr :love:
 
I dunno every time I go into a HD dealership they are always busy, I avoid them on week-ends as it's worse.
Seems like a good sign to me.
 
sburns said:
I dunno every time I go into a HD dealership they are always busy, I avoid them on week-ends as it's worse.
Seems like a good sign to me.
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I don't know why everyone thinks HD is riding off a cliff - they are not. They are experiencing a downturn in the market, one hitting their aging demographic hard. It's probably made worse by the fact there a bit of a surge in the ADV market which has been great for the manufacturers that play there.

HD is a survivor and they know how to fight. My guess is they will continue to dominate the mid and heavy cruiser market for some time. The do need to improve dealer management. For decades they have tried to introduce new bikes, some of them very capable (Buell, VRSC, Street line). Dealers snubbed them, many throttled back on efforts to show and sell the bikes. I recall walking into a local HD dealership to look at a VRSC, the sales man clearly wanted me to buy a Dyna - even going as far as insinuating the VRSC was a "pussy's bike". That attitude needs to change.

Car companies do things a bit differently. They provide incentives and allocate products based on what you are selling -- and what you're not selling. Perhaps that's why HD brought in a car guy to sell motorcycles.
 
KWDRZ said:
HD's aren't desirable to people buying bikes now, good luck changing that. HD needs a miracle.
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How do you know that, sources?
I am part of a HD group on Facebook and there have been several people buying new bikes and some used, this riding season.
 
sburns said:
How do you know that, sources?
I am part of a HD group on Facebook and there have been several people buying new bikes and some used, this riding season.
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They'll always sell some. For some people, nothing else will do. Outside of that group though, when people are shopping for a bike and comparing bikes at a specific price point (or specific specs and letting the price float), I think HD doesn't stack up well. They have been hogs at the trough for far too long and just sitting back and enjoying high margins with little effort. That's a scary business model as you will get passed by the competition and then be lacking all of the R&D/innovation/spirit to reinvent your company as anyone that thought that way left long ago. I think they will survive, but pretending they are the baddest and best bikes is just embarrassing. They make a competent product for a high price that sounds awesome and is very well supported by dealers and a cultivated culture.

I saw my first HD rider of the year not wearing HD clothing. He had a dover shirt on. I would be shocked if clothing wasn't the biggest profit center for HD and the bikes were just there to support the clothing sales.
 
GreyGhost said:
They'll always sell some. For some people, nothing else will do. Outside of that group though, when people are shopping for a bike and comparing bikes at a specific price point (or specific specs and letting the price float), I think HD doesn't stack up well. They have been hogs at the trough for far too long and just sitting back and enjoying high margins with little effort. That's a scary business model as you will get passed by the competition and then be lacking all of the R&D/innovation/spirit to reinvent your company as anyone that thought that way left long ago. I think they will survive, but pretending they are the baddest and best bikes is just embarrassing. They make a competent product for a high price that sounds awesome and is very well supported by dealers and a cultivated culture.
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I might disagree with a few points. I chum around with a lot of young riders at work, there is a bit of a rising tide amongst early 20s riders looking at their first bump off beginner Ninjas and CBs. I'm surprised at how many of these kids plan on graduating to Street Harleys. Honda left a nice gap when they killed of the Shadow. If HD took $1K off the price, got rid of that silly $350 colour premium, and gave the thing a proper launch that included having inventory in dealerships -- they should sell more and begin to build some loyalty with new young riders.

The bike doesn't need to be perfect, ir category leading -- it needs to be comparable to the competition.
 
Mad Mike said:
If HD took $1K off the price, got rid of that silly $350 colour premium, and gave the thing a proper launch that included having inventory in dealerships -- they should sell more and begin to build some loyalty with new young riders.

The bike doesn't need to be perfect, ir category leading -- it needs to be comparable to the competition.
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So a price cut of~15%? While I agree that would make a big difference, that is the HD fat I am talking about. That is a real amount of money to the customer, but also a real amount to HD. I would be surprised if they could afford that cut unless they hoped they would make it back (eg. something like $1000 off bike if you purchase $1000 in accessories).
 
GreyGhost said:
So a price cut of~15%? While I agree that would make a big difference, that is the HD fat I am talking about. That is a real amount of money to the customer, but also a real amount to HD. I would be surprised if they could afford that cut unless they hoped they would make it back (eg. something like $1000 off bike if you purchase $1000 in accessories).
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That's where HD might be making a mistake. For the last 20 years, HD has waited until their customers were in their late 40s before selling them their first HD. That means a lot of prior bike buys went to other brands.

I would look at the entry level bike for exactly what it is -- a way to get new consumers into your camp AND an entry to a cruiser riding. I'd also set an objective to have that customer for a lifetime -- I'll still sell him that Hog when he hits 50, but I'd also try selling him a few bikes before that.

I doubt a Street would ever cannibalize the sale of a Hog, for HD it should all be incremental business.
 
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