Harley-Davidson Shifts Production to Thailand, Sparking Uproar 

 

Harley-Davidson has announced that it will move the production of three popular models—the Pan America, Sportster S, and Nightster—to Thailand starting in 2025, sparking outrage among its US customer base and workers. The shift has raised concerns about the brand's commitment to its American roots, particularly in Wisconsin, where the company is headquartered. Workers fear job losses, and the US’s International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers has expressed strong disapproval. Although Harley-Davidson insists the move is temporary and plans to invest an additional US$9 million into its US facilities, the decision has left many feeling betrayed, worried that the company is abandoning its "Made in America" legacy.

The brand Harley Davidson have been  fading world wide and even worse in Europe. In Norway Harley Davidson had 12% of the marked in 2016, and now down to 2% of all the new bikes sold. I wish them good luck with the Asian Markeds for the future. 

 

https://www.motorcyclesdata.com/2024/03/07/harley-davidson/

https://britishdealernews.co.uk/news/international/harley-davidson-decline-and-fall/

Harley has always been an inferior product, coasting on its reputation and loyalty amongst certain hikers seeking prestige. 

 

When I lived in the LA, I used to go on these bike rides with a large groups of guys, and there were always quite a few bikes by the side of the road broken down, and inevitably 99% of them were Harleys. I also had a group of friends who liked to go riding, but their idea of a ride was to go into town and park their Harley on the street in front of a Cafe, where they could just sit there all afternoon watching people admiring their bikes. That is not biking. 

 

Some of us prefered to take our superbikes up into the mountains and spend the day screaming through the canyons, that was a lot more fun. 

This must be part of the MAGA program lol!

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Harley has always been an inferior product, coasting on its reputation and loyalty amongst certain hikers seeking prestige. 

 

When I lived in the LA, I used to go on these bike rides with a large groups of guys, and there were always quite a few bikes by the side of the road broken down, and inevitably 99% of them were Harleys. I also had a group of friends who liked to go riding, but their idea of a ride was to go into town and park their Harley on the street in front of a Cafe, where they could just sit there all afternoon watching people admiring their bikes. That is not biking. 

 

Some of us prefered to take our superbikes up into the mountains and spend the day screaming through the canyons, that was a lot more fun. 

 

that's why it's a Harley 'Owners' Club and not a 'Riders' Club

52 minutes ago, digbeth said:

 

that's why it's a Harley 'Owners' Club and not a 'Riders' Club

A bike for old men.😉

also Aed Carabao, the Thai 'Country - folk' singer that had a hit 'Made in Thailand' that decries the rise in popularly of imported goods in the 80s, ironically loves to be kitted out in Jeans and Harleys - few of the very thing his songs rally against.... now that they're mad in Thailand.... 

Always confused when developed nations' blue collar workers want higher wages but complain about cheaper Asian products. 

Can't blame them for wanting a better standard of living.

 

So Thailand will start building H D farm tractors

Will that lower the price here 

The bike for old men on defined benefit pensions.

Any other manufacturers allowing their bikes to make so much row would find their products banned .

That's from an old old  vello clubman rider.

Leave the HD in America where it belongs.

The baby boomers are aging out of these types of toys and later generations aren't interested. Harley's future is bleak.

 

Then there's 120 years of the "if it breaks, make it bigger" engineering philosophy behind their product.