Trump: Harley-Davidsons being made in Thailand is "the beginning of the end"

[webfact]

Donald Trump: Harley-Davidsons should "never" be made abroad

 

FILE PHOTO: Harley Davidson motorcycles are displayed for sale at a showroom in London, Britain, June 22 2018. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File Photo

 

Donald Trump has said Harley-Davidsons should "never" be built abroad, as he attacked the firm's plans to move some production overseas to avoid European tariffs.

 

Mr Trump said the iconic bike brand's new Thailand plant marked a "surrender" and "the beginning of the end".

 

Last week, the EU imposed retaliatory tariffs on US goods, including bourbon, orange juice and motorcycles.

 

Full story: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44610010

 

-- © Copyright BBC 2018-06-28

[PREM-R]

Perhaps the American President could put a tax on Thai products imported to the US of A in retaliation for the Thais 'stealing American jaarbs'.

[300sd]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

"surrender" and "the beginning of the end".

It's a cycle! 

 

Trumps cycle will also come to an end.

[Briggsy]

It's all about the soundbite. And the sad thing is many U.S. voters are dumb enough, desperate enough or ignorant enough to buy straight into it.

 

Automotive companies with worldwide sales understand that in today's world they need to have several production centres around the world. The industry is very capital intensive and decisions have to be taken years in advance. Many factors enter the equation. Too many to list but here is a few. Cost of labour force, Skill of labour force, Location of customers, Tax and tax incentives, location of parts suppliers, stability of business environment, development of local automotive assembly industry.

 

The president is just talking complete garbage as usual.

[Just1Voice]

I've never really been a big Harley fan, preferring the "crotch rockets" myself.  Nothing against HD, they make great bikes, and I have good friends who own them, but just not for me.  But let's face it, Harley is the All American Bike. That's an undisputable fact. HD is, and almost always has been, a symbol of "Americana".  

Building them in Thailand is a double edged sword.  It would definitely lower the prices for those in SE Asia who want to own one, but on the other hand, in the domestic market it could, in some ways, cheapen their value, as they would no longer be the "American Icon" for motorcycles.  

[Briggsy]

3 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

but on the other hand, in the domestic market it could, in some ways, cheapen their value, as they would no longer be the "American Icon" for motorcycles.   

But HD have been producing in Brazil, India and Australia for years. Did that cheapen their value? Why are Harleys produced in India an "American Icon" but Harleys produced in Thailand "cheap copies"? Or is it only when Trump tells you to think in a certain way?

[JAG]

Honda, Yamaha and co. seem to have coped with building motorcycles here, quite well really. 

 

Mind you, I don't know how well the Thais are geared up to supply greasy grey pigtails, grubby jeans or garishly painted leather waistcoats, although my local "Tessaban market" does have a stall selling the obligatory red and white spotted hankies...

 

You may have gathered, I'm not really a motorcyclist!

[Topdoc]

How about: "Harley-Davidsons should never be built."

[doggie1955]

35 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

It's all about the soundbite. And the sad thing is many U.S. voters are dumb enough, desperate enough or ignorant enough to buy straight into it.

 

Automotive companies with worldwide sales understand that in today's world they need to have several production centres around the world. The industry is very capital intensive and decisions have to be taken years in advance. Many factors enter the equation. Too many to list but here is a few. Cost of labour force, Skill of labour force, Location of customers, Tax and tax incentives, location of parts suppliers, stability of business environment, development of local automotive assembly industry.

 

The president is just talking complete garbage as usual.

Tariffs need to be increased first of all. (I am from the US). If the tariffs were higher then the money it costs to outsource products might make companies start to use Americans to produce goods. I believe it is always better to have any country use their own people to do the jobs to get things made, instead of getting poor little Chinese people to make our shoes and toys, and yes I do realize that China is not the only country that companies use to make cheaper products, but its a big one. If tariffs were higher then the companies would not make as much money from foreign people and more local citizens would have jobs, and more businesses would buy materials from inside their own countries...MAGA

[stanleycoin]

I think this is all very fitting for Harley Davidson and Thailand.

Arm Chairs for the old men and bikes for  the Girls. 

Edited June 28, 2018 by stanleycoin

[poanoi]

no, this is not the end, its not even the beginning of the end,

but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

here's hoping for cheaper choppers in thailand in general,

i'm hoping for yamaha to follow suit when HD drops

[thaiguzzi]

22 minutes ago, JAG said:

Honda, Yamaha and co. seem to have coped with building motorcycles here, quite well really. 

 

Mind you, I don't know how well the Thais are geared up to supply greasy grey pigtails, grubby jeans or garishly painted leather waistcoats, although my local "Tessaban market" does have a stall selling the obligatory red and white spotted hankies...

 

You may have gathered, I'm not really a motorcyclist!

Not forgetting BMW, Ducati and Triumph factories here.

Triumph have 2 factories in the UK and 3 here. The success story that is the modern Hinkley Triumph name, would not be possible without Mr Bloor having the foresight to open up that 1st Triumph factory in Chonburi.

[Psimbo]

Far Kim-this was all planned months ago and has nothing to do with his most recent buffoonery.

[KiwiKiwi]

1 hour ago, PREM-R said:

Perhaps the American President could put a tax on Thai products imported to the US of A in retaliation for the Thais 'stealing American jaarbs'.

And CD's and DVD's and Books, and Degree Certificates and and and...

 

Of course Trump could just wake up and hunt down a brain to think with... nah...

[KiwiKiwi]

 

For all Americans who now realise they should not have voted Trump in - be careful what you wish for. This is not the end,, the end is discovering what people think of you and how influential you really are in the world.

 

Donald will be happy to show you.

[PatOngo]

Somchai Davidson Mo-cy...…..has a certain ring to it!

[jvs]

Big export market to China,smart move by HD.

 

[Jeremy50]

Has anyone with a flat stomach ever ridden a Harley? Or would it just topple over? Just wondering.

[Expatthailover]

Another example of don the draft dodger and his casual racism 

Pandering to his good ol boy constituency 

Edited June 28, 2018 by Expatthailover

[Nobbie49]

Perhaps the American President could put a tax on Thai products imported to the US of A in retaliation for the Thais 'stealing American jaarbs'.

Or imposing 300% import duty on US wines. Wish Trump would be made aware of this and reciprocate on Thai food imports. Then watch the Thai scramble


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[car720]

The beginning of the end for a lot of rich Thais.

More road kill.

[mcdiddly]

Let's see, economy strong and getting stronger, unemployment at a 40 year low, housing market strong, job market strong, border laws being enforced... Looks like the President is doing what he is suppose to do. I could care less if he hurt peoples feelings with his tweets, especially non US citizens.  I don't know of an American that voted for Trump that is regretting it.

Edited June 28, 2018 by mcdiddly

[Aupee]

1 hour ago, doggie1955 said:

Tariffs need to be increased first of all. (I am from the US). If the tariffs were higher then the money it costs to outsource products might make companies start to use Americans to produce goods. I believe it is always better to have any country use their own people to do the jobs to get things made, instead of getting poor little Chinese people to make our shoes and toys, and yes I do realize that China is not the only country that companies use to make cheaper products, but its a big one. If tariffs were higher then the companies would not make as much money from foreign people and more local citizens would have jobs, and more businesses would buy materials from inside their own countries...MAGA

Hasn't Trump got most of his Production in other countries. But then his stuff probably isn't anywhere near Iconic

[tmchiangmai]

@mcdiddly well said, I agree

Edited June 28, 2018 by tmchiangmai
Written incorrectly

[stanleycoin]

Did hear with every new purchase they will be giving away a 

High speed quick access to bar stool kit.

 

Edited June 28, 2018 by stanleycoin

[KiwiKiwi]

8 minutes ago, stanleycoin said:

Did hear with every new purchase they will be giving away a 

High speed quick access to bar stool kit.

 

 

The automatic beer glass lifter attachment would be useful too...

[Lupatria]

Please don't let them manufacture the brake system here, so far accidents with Harley's due to brake failure was quite unusual here.

[lockyv7]

if harley go down the tube they only have thenselves to blame, this is $66,700AUD sticker price in thailand. I sometimes think the upper class in Thailand like that the big Harleys are so pricy because they know only people with real money are buying them and the price weeds out the pretenders.  

[sandrabbit]

3 minutes ago, lockyv7 said:

if harley go down the tube they only have thenselves to blame, this is $66,700AUD sticker price in thailand. I sometimes think the upper class in Thailand like that the big Harleys are so pricy because they know only people with real money are buying them and the price weeds out the pretenders.  

They nearly went down the tube in the late 70's, remember the TV series CHIPS?. US police were using Kawasaki 1000's and they were faster, could go round corners, better on fuel and cheaper to service. (probably would be worth money to collectors now). The US government of the time forced government agencies to us Harley's and they didn't go to the wall.

[Cadbury]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Donald Trump has said Harley-Davidsons should "never" be built abroad, as he attacked the firm's plans to move some production overseas to avoid European tariffs

Donald might get them to change their mind if he proposed a 500% tariff on HD bikes made in Thailand and imported into the US. That might send a shudder through the spines of HD management.