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Harley Davidson and the unions.
- Thread starter TK4
- Start date
No big surprise here. The sales numbers are showing a drop steady drop (outside of 2021) from 2019 to 2023 worldwide. They need to do something to liven it up, and to bring sales back up.
Whether that's to reduce the price and focus on markets outside of NA, I don't know...but if they need to beat the tariffs going into other markets, and this is the way to do it...sucks for the people getting let go (we know there will be job losses regardless of what execs say).
Whether that's to reduce the price and focus on markets outside of NA, I don't know...but if they need to beat the tariffs going into other markets, and this is the way to do it...sucks for the people getting let go (we know there will be job losses regardless of what execs say).
HD is a premium priced product and, historically as least, they've been able to, or willing to, absorb the higher cost of production in the US and still make money.
Every manufacturing company out there has looked at sourcing parts, components or whole units from jurisdictions where labour costs are lower, be it Mexico, China or some other country, so Harley is no different.
It is no surprise that American unions are not in favor of this and are fighting back. HD customers are, I think, a different fish than most and the "made in America" label probably means more to them than a Honda buyer.
Every manufacturing company out there has looked at sourcing parts, components or whole units from jurisdictions where labour costs are lower, be it Mexico, China or some other country, so Harley is no different.
It is no surprise that American unions are not in favor of this and are fighting back. HD customers are, I think, a different fish than most and the "made in America" label probably means more to them than a Honda buyer.
2 things stood out for me:
First, for a company like HD that has deliberately curated the whole "murican" freedom/patriotism jingoism into their brand image, AND had their federal government enact protective tariffs to support and promote the whole idea this seems like dumping a gallon of gas in your own lap just before lighting your morning Marlboro.
Could the shoe salesman and his board REALLY be that unaware or is it just arrogance?
Second, I found that HD's reference to their "non-core Revolution Max powertrain equipped models" to be disheartening. So the models equipped with their modern powerplant that are supposed to attract and welcome new riders to the brand are secondary and their owners aren't part of the HD collective.
Doesn't seem like much of a growth strategy, and you've probably just sewered sales of the sportsters.
But the glorified mobility scooter tricycle IS part of their core products. It seems to me that the shoe salesman and board are determined to sink the ship and ride it to the bottom.
First, for a company like HD that has deliberately curated the whole "murican" freedom/patriotism jingoism into their brand image, AND had their federal government enact protective tariffs to support and promote the whole idea this seems like dumping a gallon of gas in your own lap just before lighting your morning Marlboro.
Could the shoe salesman and his board REALLY be that unaware or is it just arrogance?
Second, I found that HD's reference to their "non-core Revolution Max powertrain equipped models" to be disheartening. So the models equipped with their modern powerplant that are supposed to attract and welcome new riders to the brand are secondary and their owners aren't part of the HD collective.
Doesn't seem like much of a growth strategy, and you've probably just sewered sales of the sportsters.
But the glorified mobility scooter tricycle IS part of their core products. It seems to me that the shoe salesman and board are determined to sink the ship and ride it to the bottom.
Could not say it better myself, as a HD owner of the "non-core Revolution Max powertrain equipped model" this is not good news and don't not build confidence. Thankfully this is my last motorcycle...
83Virago
Active member
Maybe I'm stating the obvious, as I'm a returning rider noob who's been completely out of the scene for 25 years, but I definitely see way more anti-Harley sentiment among the under-40 crowd than back in the day. Of course, social media didn't exist back then (or was new/less prevalent/developed), so that's a factor, but we all thought Harleys were super cool back in the 90s, while in our twenties. Doesn't seem like that now?
Seems like HD is similar to Gibson guitars, in that they're completely focused on their aging/boomer existing fanbase and not trying to market to younger riders/players as much as they should be. Although I guess the 883s are an attempt at that?
I could be way off here, of course, still getting back into the scene.
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