Harley goes short of the whole hog

Harley-Davidson plans to cruise its iconic American motorcycles into China, with the help of Zongshen Motorcycle Group, the mainland's largest privately owned bike maker.

The agreement, announced yesterday, refers only to imports and technology transfer. The US company was careful to say that it would not move any of its production to China.

'We do not believe it will be necessary for Harley-Davidson to manufacture its motorcycles in China in order to sell them there,' chairman Jeffrey Bleustein said.

Harley-Davidson will share 'certain technology of a non-competing nature' with Zongshen under the deal.