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Harley-Davidson/Ducati Case Study

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Harley-Davidson/Ducati Case Study

November 20, 2013

Question 1
Ducati:
Ducati is an Italian motorcycle manufacturing company that is renowned for its high performance and stylish motorcycles. Ducati is committed to racing competitions, state of the art design, style, and most importantly, an immense passion for bikes. Ducati has created a strong bond with its customers, beginning on the racetracks and spreading worldwide. Ducati builds high performance bikes for bike enthusiasts, known as “Ducatisti”. Ducastisti are individuals who value performance as the main attribute in a motorcycle. Since Ducati delivers this, it creates brand loyalty. Since the early 90s, Ducati has created a distinctive community image with local and national Ducati enthusiast clubs by placing Ducati as a symbol of refined skills and craftsmanship that every motorcycle evokes and represents. In the World Superbike Championship, Ducati has won 15 out of the last 18 Riders’ titles and 16 Manufacturers’ titles. In conclusion, Ducati customers are confident that they are purchasing high performance motorcycles.
Harley
Haley Davidson is exhibited as an American icon. Consumers view and associate Harley Davidson with riders, wear leather, have tattoos and with police officers, military dispatch riders and motorcycle gangs. Harley’s image is also viewed as something that is catered for and used by Caucasian American males in their 40-50 (Nolan pg.2-3).Harley Davidson’s riders feel a lifestyle connection with their bikes with elements such as freedom, rebelliousness, tough, rugged individualism and bravery, American (Gavetti pg.5, Nolan pg.2-3).

On the positioning map above, Ducati is placed on the top right indicating that it is high end, expensive and for a younger demographic. Its key market segment is of consumers consisting of young men, ranging between 25 and 35 years old,

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