Harley Davidson is a renowned name in the motorcycling realm, boasting a rich legacy since 1903. In 2020, Harley Davidson sold an impressive 180,000 new motorcycles globally; this makes it one of the most prominent motorcycle manufacturers across the globe.
But with such monumental sales numbers comes another important question: where are Harley Davidson motorcycles made? Peruse through our article to uncover further details about Harley’s international production and why they’ve chosen to manufacture outside of America as well.
Harley Davidson Factories Around the World
Harley Davidson, the iconic manufacturer of motorcycles, has constructed assembly plants and contracted with factories across multiple nations to build parts for their bikes. In addition to having US locations in place, the company now operates facilities in Brazil, India and Thailand.
These global production sites not only assemble full Harley Davidsons but also ship components around the world that are used during final construction at an assembly facility near you.
Why Has Harley Opened Factories Outside of the United States?
In 2019, Harley Davidson made a highly contested decision to close their Kansas City factory as part of an investment abroad. Despite the backlash from this move, the company is adamant that it was not related to transferring manufacturing overseas but rather another independent choice.
Even with the closure of one US plant however, they opened up another in Thailand which goes towards demonstrating their commitment to investing globally.
In response to the U.S.’s heightened import taxes on steel and aluminum, along with the E.U.’s increased tariffs for exporting motorcycles from America, we decided it was necessary to open a Thailand plant in order to provide viable options for producing motorcycles destined for Europe’s marketplaces.
Rather than increasing their motorcycle prices for European customers to make up for the rise in costs, Harley Davidson opened a production facility in Thailand to evade some of these taxes and keep their pricing consistent.
While it remains uncertain if the Thai plant is running at full capacity or not, Harley Davidson announced in 2019 that the process of getting everything operational would take between 12 to 18 months.
In 2009, Harley Davidson initiated its exchange with India. Two years later, the Sportster and Dyna range commenced to be partly assembled or completely produced in their Bawal factory for varying markets throughout the world.
At first, the U.S. shipped part packages to India for putting together, yet eventually decided against this plan, and soon enough the Indian factory started manufacturing its motorcycles from scratch.
By outsourcing the fabrication of its Street 500 and 750 to India, Harley could maintain an affordable price tag while still delivering a luxurious product. It was their aim that these new entry-level models, with smaller engine sizes, would attract customers in Asia and Europe who wanted something more cost effective but still carried the high quality HD brand.
In 1998, Harley Davidson took a calculated risk and opened a Brazilian factory in Manaus to combat the export taxes from America to Brazil as well as any trade restrictions. This location only manufactured motorcycles for the domestic market at that time.
Will Harley Davidson Open a Plant in China?
In 2019, speculations spread that Harley Davidson was preparing to establish a factory in China. This would be for the purpose of producing modern lightweight vehicles mainly intended for purchasers from Asia. Allegedly, Harley has partnered with Qianjiang Motorcycle Co and is likely introducing a 338cc bike soon.
Harley has set out to achieve a lofty, yet achievable goal of exclusively sourcing international sales by the year 2027. The problem, historically, was that Harley’s vehicles were too costly for many individuals abroad. To combat this issue and increase overseas sales numbers significantly, Harley plans on releasing smaller capacity machines which should make their products more affordable to everyone around the globe.
How Much of a Harley Davidson Motorcycle is Made in the U.S.?
Have you ever wondered how much and where are Harley Davidson motorcycles made in the U.S? It’s easily understandable since factories are now located all over the world, however according to Harley Davidson, most of their models still remain American-made. Although this may be true, they do source parts from various global places and its assembly can take place around multiple countries as well.
Although Harley Davidson is a globally recognized brand, their R&D, design and engineering work remains anchored in the United States. They also have an extensive network of suppliers and vendors throughout many of the states in the US which supply them with all of their motorcycle parts and components.
Where Are Harley Davidson Motorcycles Made
With a storied past, Harley Davidson has been able to expand its production and factories across myriad countries. Although their core manufacturing is still done in the United States, they have tapped other nations for cost-effectiveness and greater availability of their products.
Despite the controversy that swirls around Harley Davidson for building factories abroad, it’s essential for them to remain competitive in an increasingly global market. As they venture into new markets and introduce more model options, we can observe with intrigue how their worldwide production network develops over time.
Are you an enthusiast of Harley Davidson or simply curious about where are Harley Davidson motorcycles made? Whether your answer is yes to either question, Harley Davidson has factories across the world. Despite its deep-seated roots in America, this global presence demonstrates their dedication to remaining a dominant force within the motorcycle industry.
FAQs
Here are some FAQs on the topic of where are Harley Davidson motorcycles made:
Where are Harley Davidson motorcycles made?
Harley Davidson proudly produces their iconic motorcycles in factories across the United States, Brazil, India and Thailand.
To ensure an excellent quality of life for all customers worldwide, Harley Davidson sources some parts from other nations before shipping them to assembly plants for final production.
Why did Harley Davidson open factories outside of the United States?
In order to make their products more accessible in international markets and decrease expenses, Harley Davidson established factories outside of the United States.
Additionally, they had to endure increased import taxes on steel and aluminum when shipping into America as well as E.U. tariffs for exporting motorcycles from the United States to Europe and the U.K..
How much of a Harley Davidson motorcycle is made in the United States?
Harley Davidson proudly maintains that most of their motorcycles are made in the United States, however parts from all over the globe contribute to their assembly and final production which is then completed across multiple countries.
What models of Harley Davidson motorcycles are made outside of the United States?
Harley-Davidson has outsourced the production of its Street range (500 and 750) to India. The Brazilian plant in Manaus produces motorcycles exclusively for the local market. In Thailand, assembly and some parts are made there while most models are assembled by factories based in Brazil, India and the United States.
Does Harley Davidson plan to open a factory in China?
Last year, reports circulated that Harley Davidson was intending to launch a manufacturing center in China. The goal of this new facility would be to produce lightweight machines mostly for the Asian market. To date, though, the company hasn’t confirmed these plans yet and it is uncertain when or if they will materialize.
Will Harley Davidson continue to expand its manufacturing outside of the United States?
Harley Davidson may possibly extend its manufacturing beyond the United States in order to capture global markets, yet this will highly depend on a range of components such as trade regulations and economic dynamics across nations.