http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_13563219
Harley-Davidson reported this morning a 21 percent decrease in motorcycle sales in the third quarter of 2009. The company also said it plans to discontinue its Buell production line and divest MV Agusta, an Italian motorcycle maker Harley purchased recently.
The company also said in this morning's earnings report that talks have begun on a new contract with union workers the plants in York County. Harley said its "two path" study into whether to keep Harley in York County continues and that it still expects to make a decision by the end of the year.
Harley's sales fell by about 30 percent this spring. Shutdown weeks and job reductions have come this year as the Milwaukee-based company has sought to scale back production. Locally, four full weeks and two partial weeks of shutdown time were scheduled earlier this year. Three weeks have already happened.
York County hosts Harley's largest manufacturing facility, but the company said earlier this year it might move the operations elsewhere to make them more cost effective. The company maintains its preferred option is to stay, and union and company representatives reportedly told workers last week a restructuring plan is "viable." Contract negotiations are also part of the effort to keep the Springettsbury Township plants from moving.
Harley said this morning it plans to end Buell production and terminate about 180 total positions. Most of those workers will see their employment end by Dec. 18, the company said. MV Agusta will go up for sale, only a little more than a year after Harley purchased it.
Harley CEO Keith Wandell said in the release the company is seeking through the moves to have a "single-minded focus on the Harley-Davidson brand."
