Harley Suspends US Production Over Virus Concerns

Man, s—t is getting serious. Stores are empty, the streets are quiet, and we just found out Harley-Davidson has even temporarily suspended US production of its motorcycles.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as well as USA Today news items, we learned that Harley had announced the suspension of production at its US manufacturing facilities until March 29. This was after it learned one of its employees tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Journal reported that H-D was temporarily shutting down the lines at its Wisconsin Pilgrim Road Powertrain Operations in Menomonee Falls and Tomahawk Operations facility in Tomahawk, and the York Vehicle Operations in Pennsylvania.

According to USA Today, the Menomonee Falls location closed Wednesday afternoon following discovery of the positive COVID-19 test. The other plants mentioned above were closed by the evening.

This past Monday, we learned that the company had asked employees at the Milwaukee corporate offices to work from home if possible at least through the end of March, while the majority of Harley’s US production employees now will be on temporary layoff status, but with medical benefits.

In a statement, Harley said it will “use this time to continue deep cleaning and disinfecting its production areas and common areas to further protect workers upon their return.”

It has also come to light that all of Harley’s company-sponsored events have been canceled until April.

This comes on the heels of Ducati and Yamaha Motors Europe also halting production temporarily to protect their workers in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Ducati is reorganizing its Borgo Panigale plant in Italy while Yamaha is suspending production in its Italy- and France-based engine and assembly plants this week and assessing safety conditions on a week-by-week basis.

Stay tuned for more developments, be safe, and ride motorcycles—because it’s not a bad way to practice social distancing, at the very least.