Harley-Davidson Delivers Good and Bad News

Harley Davidson Inc. will release the first electric motorcycle in 18 months, but will close its Kansas City plan, affecting 800 employees.

Harleydavidson

Harley-Davidson Inc. announced that with its fourth quarter earnings report that they’re on track to launch its first electric motorcycle in the next 18 months. In 2014, the company shocked its customers when they revealed an electric bike that accelerated from zero to 60 in four seconds. Harley has been developing the product ever since.

In the same announcement, however, Harley-Davidson said that they are planning on closing its Kansas City plan in 2019. The closure will affect up to 800 employees. Operations will then fold into its Pennsylvania facility, helping create 450 jobs.

"This decision was made after very careful consideration of our manufacturing footprint and the appropriate capacity given the current business environment,” Harley spokeswoman Bernadette Lauer said. “We are constantly evaluating capacity and our current U.S. capacity exceeds U.S. demand.”

"This decision was made after very careful consideration of our manufacturing footprint and the appropriate capacity given the current business environment,” Harley spokeswoman Bernadette Lauer said. “We are constantly evaluating capacity and our current U.S. capacity exceeds U.S. demand.”

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