Just a few hours ago, by publishing an official statement, Harley-Davidson announced that it will resume production of the platform Revolution Max at its facilities in the United States. A decision that is included in the recent commercial strategy “Back to the Bricks” launched last May.
According to the Yankee company itself “This move allows machining, powertrain assembly, painting and final vehicle assembly to return to Harley-Davidson facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, supporting skilled union jobs and strengthening the Company’s manufacturing presence in the United States.”
Revolution Max platform leaves Thailand
It was in the summer of 2024 when Harley-Davidson made official its intention to move the production of its motorcycles with a Revolution Max engine to Thailand. Then the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workerswhich represents the employees of the Harley-Davidson plant, expressed strong rejection of this decision, announcing that they would fight to stop it.
Finally it seems that they did not succeed, since the decision to recover the production of Revolution Max, as expressed by the brand itself, is the result, among other things, of the changes introduced by the Trump administration in US trade policy, added to the transformations of the global commercial environment. This, according to the company’s directives “has created new opportunities for companies to invest in domestic manufacturing.”
After this decision was made public Bill DavidsonVice President, Special Advisor to the CEO and Global Brand Ambassador, stated: “My family has worked in this company for generations, and I have witnessed the pride, craftsmanship and hard work that goes into manufacturing Harley-Davidson motorcycles in America. My father, Willie, my sister, Karen, and I are very excited about what is happening at Harley-Davidson.”
He concluded: “Bringing this work back home is another important step in returning to basics, investing in American manufacturing and consolidating the values that have made Harley-Davidson one of the most iconic brands in the world.” The return of production of the Revolution Max platform to North America includes the Pan America, Sportster S and Nightster models.
This move allows machining, powertrain assembly, painting and final vehicle assembly to return to Harley facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, supporting dozens of additional manufacturing jobs. For Harley-Davidson, under the leadership of its new CEO, Artie Starrsthis means they can further consolidate their presence in the United States and manufacture more motorcycles within the country’s borders.
From the brand they conclude: “This decision, which has been in the works for months, reflects our commitment to strengthening Harley-Davidson’s manufacturing base for the long term.”. The production transition is expected to be completed before the start of production of the 2028 model year in 2027. Harley-Davidson expects to build more than 100,000 motorcycles at the company’s York, Pennsylvania, plant by 2027.
