More room for vroom: Imported bikes to cost less

Premium motorcycles sold by Harley-Davidson, Triumph and Suzuki among others are set to get cheaper with the government lowering basic customs duties on such automobiles by 5-20%, depending on the engine capacity and whether fully imported or locally assembled.

Rationalisation of high import duties on motorcycles by India has been a long-standing demand of new US President Donald Trump. Trump had earlier spoken of ending preferential treatment on a host of Indian goods that enter the US duty-free, terming it "a very high-tariff nation". He had particularly cited the instance of Harley-Davidson at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in his last term saying, "When we send a motorcycle to India, they charge 100% tariff. When India sends a motorcycle to us, we charge nothing."

Harley-Davidson sells 10 imported motorcycles in India priced at ₹13-39 lakh through a tie-up with Hero MotoCorp. Triumph, Suzuki, Ducati and Kawasaki also sell premium motorcycles.