The iconic American motorcycle manufacturer, Harley-Davidson, announced on Tuesday that it will relocate production of its Revolution Max engine platform for the North American market back to the United States. This move is part of the company's strategic focus on returning to its core origins.
The relocation will bring machining, powertrain assembly, painting, and final vehicle assembly operations back to Harley-Davidson's facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. This initiative is anticipated to support dozens of additional American manufacturing and union jobs.
The Revolution Max engine platform represents Harley-Davidson's modern, liquid-cooled, high-performance engine line. It powers models such as the Pan America, Sportster S, and Nightster. Since its introduction, this engine has aided the company in expanding its presence in the adventure touring and performance street bike market segments.
This production transition is expected to be completed by 2027, ahead of the start of production for the 2028 model year. Harley-Davidson stated it anticipates manufacturing over 100,000 motorcycles from its York, Pennsylvania, plant in 2027.
The company declared in a statement that for over a century, Harley-Davidson has invested in American manufacturing, skilled labor, and the communities that build its motorcycles. The announcement marks another significant step forward in bringing the production of the Revolution Max platform for the North American market back to the US.
Harley-Davidson cited changes in US trade policy and the evolving global trade environment as creating new opportunities for manufacturing companies to invest domestically. Under the leadership of new CEO Artie Starrs, the company is positioned to further strengthen its American manufacturing foundation and build more motorcycles at home.
The Revolution Max engine signifies Harley-Davidson's modern liquid-cooled performance product line. While this platform was previously produced overseas, its return to domestic production marks a major adjustment in the company's manufacturing strategy. It also underscores the firm's long-term commitment to reinforcing its American manufacturing capabilities.
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