Company Overview

Harley-Davidson is the only major U.S. maker of motorcycles and the nation’s top seller of heavyweight motorcycles. In 1901, William Harley and Arthur Davidson began experimenting to create motorized bicycles, succeeding by 1903. By 1920, it was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, producing 28,189 motorcycles. Today the company makes 33 models of touring and custom Harleys in five U.S. states and sells and distributes its motorcycles through a worldwide network of more than 1,300 dealers. It also produces motorcycles under the Buell nameplate and sells its own line of clothing and accessories. To match huge demand from its devoted customer base, Harley increased its annual production from more than 317,000 in 2004 to 329,000 in 2005, and has announced its goal to ship about 350,000 in 2006. The company predicts it will sell 400,000 Hogs annually by 2007. The company’s market is maturing, however, and Harley-Davidson is looking beyond its current major markets of North America, Europe, and Japan; in 2006 the company opened its first dealership in Beijing. It also has created a partnership with Lehman Trikes to make three-wheeled motorcycles under the Harley-Davidson brand.