Thai Harley

[J.Mencalice]

Harley Davidson plant in Kansas City shutting down; moving 400 of 800 jobs to York, PA and opening a new plant in Thailand to spur international sales (Hell's Angels-Mongolia Chapter?).

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2018/05/11/union-harley-davidson-ship-work-thailand-closing-u-s-plant/601033002/

So, the next time some Harley person starts in on the "Made in the USA" diatribe.  Well?

I like the "...there is nothing (we) could have done..." line from the corporate shill.  I also find it completely ironic, yet highly interesting, that the name of one of the working stiffs whose job is being moved to K.C. is Pence. I just wonder.

[Savago]

It is pretty sad news and the lost of jobs + manufacturing capabilities are strategically pretty bad for this country.

On the other hand, Tesla is expanding their production and hiring more workers. Basically they can't manufacture cars fast enough to supply the demand.

Maybe HD could be doing better if:
a) They had better bikes.
b) They didn't overcharge for their product.

[Willow]

It's interesting watching folks jump to conclusions about things of which they know little.

The plant in the east is to build bikes that will be sold in the east.  They've actually been building bikes in India for quire some time.  Harley is still planning to build bikes for U.S. sales in the U.S. although they have used parts from elsewhere in their U.S. plants.  Harley's market is diminishing while their market in the east is growing.

We do hate to see the K.C. plant closed but it is probably a good business decision.

Harley did offer each of their K.C employees the opportunity to relocate to another plant and they provided financial motivation for those who will not but will stay on until the closing.

If someone is really that concerned about the loss of jobs within H.D. one could go out and buy a couple of Harley Davidson motorcycles.  I won't but then I'm not.

[da prez]

Harley  had to build a plant in China to sell the bikes there , as did Ford , Chevy , and Mercedes. If it's not built in China,  then the Chinese do not need it.

               da prez
 

[Alpha Dog]

Harley  had to build a plant in China to sell the bikes there , as did Ford , Chevy , and Mercedes. If it's not built in China,  then the Chinese do not need it.

               da prez
 

I am thinking this is correct in order to circumvent those huge tariffs everyone else but us puts on imports. Free trade is only one sided for the most part.  This not related however Honda also builds ( at least ) scooters in Thailand, and some think the quality has gone done on these models.

[Hook#3287]

Harley-Davidson has said the Thailand plant will assemble bikes from components produced at the company’s U.S. facilities.

I wonder which parts?   Gas tanks and fenders?  Does HD make engines in the US?

When I visited York, the only production I witnessed IN the plant was frames, gas tanks & fenders.

They were nice though. Great paint shop.

Everything else was outsourced.  When I asked the tour guide where, she replied "Somewhere else"

It's a global market and HD is only doing what every other US vehicle producer has done, but none other has touted the "American" brand more than them.

For that, they deserve the scrutiny.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

According to Cycle World the US is small potatoes when it comes to motorcycle sales. India is now the largest consumer and producer of internal combustion powered two-wheelers on the planet. They exceed our yearly sales every 11 days according to the magazine.

Although I do see the humor in this I feel bad for the displaced workers. What I really wonder about is what will the guys with the HD tattoos do if HD eventually gets bought out by an Indian company? In the future such a thing could well happen.

Here in the states, our young just don't seem as interested in motorcycles as we were. The safety mentality seems to affect America's young more deeply than my generation I guess.

[Jersey mike]

Harley  had to build a plant in China to sell the bikes there , as did Ford , Chevy , and Mercedes. If it's not built in China,  then the Chinese do not need it.

               da prez
 

i have heard of this before but i wonder do companies get to buy their property or do they have to rent/lease from China? and if they do get to own the property what's to prevent China from seizing the property and assets.