U.S. motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday despite a dip in global sales and said it would ship more vehicles during 2016, sending its stock up nearly 10 percent in early trading.<br />"Although we expect the macroeconomic environment to remain challenging, we are confident we'll continue to lead with our powerful brand," Chief Executive Matt Levatich said in a statement.<br />Harley-Davidson, which commands more than half the U.S. big-bike market, has seen its share eroded in recent years as foreign competitors cut prices to entice new buyers and due to anemic demand for its motorcycles.<br />When it reported third-quarter earnings in October, the Milwaukee-based company, which has been manufacturing motorcycles for over a century, announced a marketing campaign to increase brand awareness in the face of steep discounts from foreign rivals taking advantage of a strong U.S. dollar.
