Not Many Harleys are Sold in China

Sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles in China are far less than sold in Milwaukee, WI, home of Harley-Davidson. Liza Lin of Bloomberg Businessweek reports:

"China’s population is almost 2,300 times greater than that of Milwaukee, where Harley-Davidson (HOG) is based. Yet after six years operating in China, the motorcycle maker still sells more bikes in its hometown. The reason: About 100 cities in the world’s most populous nation, including Beijing and Shanghai, have restrictions on motorcycles, including banning them from elevated highways and major thoroughfares to curb noise and thefts, according to the state-affiliated Society of Automotive Engineers of China." -- Liza Lin

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Might Harley-Davidson Leave Milwaukee?

This report from the Associated Press by Dinesh Ramde indicates that 107 years in one town may be enough for Harley-Davidson. Here's an excerpt:

"It's the roar that made Milwaukee famous — the distinctive throaty rumble of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. But that much-loved racket could be rumbling away to another state if the company cannot bring down its labor costs." -- Dinesh Ramde

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