Replace Kansas City plant with Thailand?

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May 12, 2018 | 01:55 PM

Mattbastard

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Joined: Nov 2009

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From: Tampa

Replace Kansas City plant with Thailand?

http://thehill.com/homenews/news/387...ansas-city?amp

Well, at least manufacturing costs will drop considerably. Not sure how well some 10 year old Thai kid will be able to lift the lead hammer used for truing cranks tho.

May 12, 2018 | 02:09 PM

Bluraven

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From: Omaha

The “Union” says"? Then Pelosi’s name is mentioned.
If the story is true then both the Union and those with the beliefs of Pelosi are the ones to blame not Harley.

May 12, 2018 | 06:54 PM

brudford

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From: Beaver Falls PA

I will give you an example of how pathetic the state of manufacturing is in America . Yesterday I went to my local Harley dealer in Beaver Falls PA and purchased a front turn signal relocation kit for my 2016 883 Iron for $35.00 . On the front of the package, " Made in Taiwan " . Now think about this, two brackets cast from some cheap pot metal, a couple of nuts and bolts and a few pieces of wire . You would think Harley could find a foundry in the US to cast this part, however it is cheaper to have this product made and shipped from across the world . We will never be able to compete with Pacific Rim nations that do not have EPA, OHSA, a regressive corporate tax structure and out of control inviromental laws . Harley cannot say " made in America" any longer they are required by federal law to say, " Assembled in America " .Harley is now less that 50% US made parts, some on this forum will dispute this, but they are wrong . It is not when will American Harleys be made off-shore and shipped to the US buyer but how soon this will happen .

May 12, 2018 | 06:58 PM

kel03

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From: Niagara, Ontario, Canada

Heard that from a employee in the York plant years ago, nothing new. It's about profitability. Lucky manufacturing is still 50% of the bike still.

May 12, 2018 | 07:24 PM

seniorsuperglideE8

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From: along the shore of Mishigami

Lower wages, no unions, reduced medical care (if they have medical), no EPA requirement conformity. Can't think of any thing else off the top of my head. One more thing, no more tariffs to ship into South East Asia.

May 12, 2018 | 07:43 PM

big papa AZ

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From: Arizona

Build there, sell there. Most manufacturers are doing it.

May 12, 2018 | 07:57 PM

T^2

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From: Maryland

From what I recall... HD is building bikes in SE Asia to circumvent massive tariffs. If they build them there, they get around the hit. If they try to import bikes there, they get drilled.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/...e-champio.aspx

Quote:

In Thailand, Harley-Davidson faces tariffs of 60% on its imported motorcycles (cars face rates of 80%) that put its bikes at a competitive disadvantage on retail pricing. By opening a facility there that assembles bikes from U.S.-made parts, it will be able to get around those restrictive tariffs just like it does in India, which imposes a 100% tariff on motorcycle imports. (Harley also has an assembly plant in Brazil it opened in 1999 to take advantage of the country's free trade zone.)

Never expect to get the whole story from union/liberal sources.

Last edited by T^2; May 12, 2018 at 07:58 PM.