European Motorcycles

This sample case interview uses the Market Study Framework. Use it to prep for upcoming interviews – start now.

Case Prompt

Our client is a private equity firm that has just purchased a motorcycle manufacturer based in Germany that makes sporty bikes.

Currently they supply motorcycles to Europe but have no presence in the US. They are looking to expand the business into the US and would like you to figure out how.

They are considering two models: one is selling through existing dealerships in the US, the other is building a flagship dealership themselves.

Our client wants you to consider a few issues. First, is this expansion a good idea? Second, which model would be the best to pursue?

Case Overview

In this Bain sample case interview, the client is a PE firm that has tapped you to do due diligence into the expansion of a European motorcycle manufacturer. The manufacturer wants to expand to the US market. Your job is to advise the client go/no-go on the expansion, and if yes, which go-to-market model will be better: existing dealerships, or building a dealership.

Utilize the Market Study Framework to help you solve the case, but don’t box yourself into that framework alone. Utilize your knowledge of the basic frameworks and your own unique business experience to build a custom framework.

This sample case interview does not have any charts or graphs to interpret. Prepping for a second round Bain interview? This is a similar case to what you can expect.

Bain Case Interview: Pointers

Bain seeks out an aspect of practicality in its candidates. As you build your framework, think about the work-streams you would assign to a team of analysts you oversee. Do the buckets make sense for a real-world environment?

In this case, do a couple of things:

1. Time yourself as you work through the case, and push yourself to hit the allotted times (2min to build structure and 2min to present it; 2min each for a brainstorming question; 2min for final recommendation)
2. Focus on C-suite level communication and polish as you walk through the case

Need to hone your casing abilities before your consulting interview? Book 1 hour with an ex-MBB coach. Want more sample case interviews? Head back to the Case Library!