Well yes, Harley-Davidson has just announced that all motorcycles equipped with the engine “Revolution Max» will be produced at the company’s plant in Thailand starting next year. The company had already moved production of its motorcycles for the European and Asian markets to Thailand in 2019.
The “International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers“, which represents the employees of the plant Harley-Davidsonhas expressed strong rejection of this decision, announcing that they will fight to stop it.
Let us remember that Harley-Davidson moved part of its production to Thailand, ensuring at the time that motorcycles manufactured there would not be sold in the United States, but in Europe and Asia. This was largely due to the tariff dispute between the US and the European Union, which resulted in a 31% European tariff on motorcycles manufactured in America.
Harley-Davidson has said it is committed to designing and developing its motorcycles in the United States, but noted that as a global company, it maintains manufacturing facilities in other countries.
They explained that, as part of their optimization strategy, they will temporarily move production of non-essential models with engines “Revolution Max» to its plant in Thailand by 2025, while the York, PA plant will focus on production of key models such as the Softail and Trike.
In response to the announcement of Harley-Davidsonthe president of the union IAM, Brian Bryantissued a strongly worded statement, calling the decision to move jobs to Thailand a betrayal of American workers and the company’s legacy.
He recalled that in 2019, nearly 600 union members lost their jobs when Harley closed its plant in Kansas City, assuring at the time that the plant in Thailand would only serve the Asian and European markets. Bryant He said the union would use all resources at its disposal to oppose the measure, and demanded that the brand maintain production of the motorcycles. Sport Series and Pan America in the United States.
Harley-Davidson union will have to say more
On the other hand, workers at the Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin plant expressed concern about the future of their jobs, fearing layoffs without clear details about how many positions could be lost. In 2018, Harley-Davidson closed its plant in Kansas City, resulting in the loss of 572 jobs, a move condemned by the IAM then.
By the way, the idea of a company moving “temporarily» To export production abroad and then return it to its country of origin seems unrealistic.
