HD Leaving Milwaukee???
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 69
From: Al Bu Ker Key, New Mexico
Yup, just the engines and the small plant in Tomahawk that does the fiberglass work in Wisconsin. York and Kansas City assemble all the bikes now.
The MoCo is no different than any other manufacturer of goods today in the USA. Labor costs have driven almost everything offshore now. I work for a major manufacturer of computers and everything we sell now is pretty much made outside the USA, predominantly in China. I try my best to buy American made goods but its getting harder everyday. I dont fault the MoCo for doing what they MUST do to stay competitive and remain in business. And, not to highjack this thread, but they dont build to EPA standards now because they WANT to its because they HAVE to. I am sick to death of all the government do-gooders and the tree-huggers MANDATING my every moment now on this planet! Rant over now.
The MoCo is no different than any other manufacturer of goods today in the USA. Labor costs have driven almost everything offshore now. I work for a major manufacturer of computers and everything we sell now is pretty much made outside the USA, predominantly in China. I try my best to buy American made goods but its getting harder everyday. I dont fault the MoCo for doing what they MUST do to stay competitive and remain in business. And, not to highjack this thread, but they dont build to EPA standards now because they WANT to its because they HAVE to. I am sick to death of all the government do-gooders and the tree-huggers MANDATING my every moment now on this planet! Rant over now.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 421
From: Lansing mi
Yup, just the engines and the small plant in Tomahawk that does the fiberglass work in Wisconsin. York and Kansas City assemble all the bikes now.
The MoCo is no different than any other manufacturer of goods today in the USA. Labor costs have driven almost everything offshore now. I work for a major manufacturer of computers and everything we sell now is pretty much made outside the USA, predominantly in China. I try my best to buy American made goods but its getting harder everyday. I dont fault the MoCo for doing what they MUST do to stay competitive and remain in business. And, not to highjack this thread, but they dont build to EPA standards now because they WANT to its because they HAVE to. I am sick to death of all the government do-gooders and the tree-huggers MANDATING my every moment now on this planet! Rant over now.
The MoCo is no different than any other manufacturer of goods today in the USA. Labor costs have driven almost everything offshore now. I work for a major manufacturer of computers and everything we sell now is pretty much made outside the USA, predominantly in China. I try my best to buy American made goods but its getting harder everyday. I dont fault the MoCo for doing what they MUST do to stay competitive and remain in business. And, not to highjack this thread, but they dont build to EPA standards now because they WANT to its because they HAVE to. I am sick to death of all the government do-gooders and the tree-huggers MANDATING my every moment now on this planet! Rant over now.
I really don't want to see HD move any factory but if they do, they better keep it within the U.S. If they start to build new factory's in Mexico like Polaris is going to do, I would have to rethink my love for Harleys.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Mission, TX
News article in our paper today said they would leave main office in Milwaukee but were considering moving everything else to a southern state due to labor cost. Their cost had come down but not enough to stay there and also said it was not intended to try and get more labor cost reductions but was about survival of the company.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
Likes: 6,171
From: SE Michigan
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
Likes: 6,171
From: SE Michigan
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,542
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From: Cocoa Beach, Florida
"...<snip> Harley-Davidson Inc.’s announcement that it might move its operations out of Wisconsin to cut $54 million in manufacturing costs has many people pointing to the state’s onerous tax laws, in particular a policy enacted in February 2009 known as “combined reporting.”
Combined reporting requires companies like Harley, with operations in many states, to combine all profits earned nationally so they can be taxed at the rate of the state in which the company is headquartered. In the first quarter of 2009, Harley reported losses of $22.5 million due to a “change in tax laws... <snip>".
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,974
Likes: 63
From: Los Angeles
HD is changing anyway from a manufacturing company to an assembly company. Manufacturing of many parts is outsourced and the bikes are assembled here. Right or wrong thats the direction the Moco going.