Harley Davidson Edit

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF HALEY DAVIDSON

Harley-Davidson, Inc. is primarily in the business of recreational vehicle. Harley-Davidson was incorporated in 1981 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

It is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Motor Company), Buell Motorcycle Company (BMC) and Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS). The Motor Company produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel and general merchandise. The Motor Company manufactures five families of motorcycles: Touring, Dyna Glide, Softail, VRSC and Sportster. BMC produces sport motorcycles, including five v-twin XB models and the single-cylinder Buell Blast. BMC also offers a line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel and general merchandise. HDFS provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs primarily to Harley-Davidson/Buell dealers and customers. The Company operates in two principal business segments: Motorcycles and Related Products (Motorcycles) and Financial Services. HDI is a manufacturer of motorcycles based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, making it one of the two remaining American mass-producer of motorcycles (along with Victory Motorcycles). The company emphasizes heavy bikes designed for cruising, bikes known for their distinctive exhaust noise.

The Motorcycles segment designs, manufactures, and sells primarily heavyweight, touring, custom, and performance motorcycles, as well as a line of motorcycle parts, accessories, clothing, and collectibles. It also offers police, fire, and rescue motorcycles. The Financial Services segment engages in financing and servicing wholesale inventory receivables and consumer retail loans primarily for the purchase of motorcycles in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It provides wholesale financial services to its dealers and retail financing to consumers. Its wholesale financial services include floorplan and open account financing of motorcycles, and motorcycle parts and accessories; real estate loans; computer loans; and showroom remodeling loans. Retail financial services include installment lending for its new and used motorcycles. The Financial Services segment also provides the brokerage of various motorcycle insurance policies and service warranty agreements.

Harley-Davidson also provides other services to its dealers, including service and business management training schools, customized dealer software packages, delivery of its motorcycles, a motorcycle rental program, and a rider training program. In addition, the company licenses the name 'Harley-Davidson' and other trademarks owned by it. Its licensed products include T-shirts, jewelry, small leather goods, and toys.

History

The company considers 1903 to be its year of founding, though the Harley-Davidson enterprise could be considered to have started in 1901 when William S. Harley, age 21, drew up plans for a small engine that displaced 7.07 cubic inches (116cc) and had four-inch flywheels. The engine was designed for use in a regular pedal-bicycle frame.

Over the next two years Harley and his boyhood pal Arthur Davidson labored on their little motor-bicycle using the northside machine shop of their friend Henry Melk. It was finished in 1903 with the help of Arthur's brother, Walter Davidson. Upon completion the boys found their little "power-cycle" unable to conquer Milwaukee's modest hills without pedal assistance. Bill Harley and the Davidsons quickly wrote off their first motor-bicycle as a valuable learning experiment.

Starting fresh, work was immediately begun on a new and much improved machine. This first "real" Harley-Davidson motorcycle would have a bigger engine of 24.74 cubic inches (405cc) with 9-3/4 inch flywheels weighing 28 pounds. The machine's advanced loop-frame was similar to the 1903 Milwaukee Merkel motorcycle. They also got help with their new engine from outboard motor pioneer Ole Evinrude. Elder brother William A. Davidson also lent a hand in the enterprise. The prototype of the new improved loop-frame model was assembled in a 10 by 15 foot (3 by 5 meter) shed in the Davidson family backyard. The machine was functional by 8 September 1904 when it was entered in a Milwaukee motorcycle race, the first known appearance of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

In January 1905, small advertisements were placed in the "Automobile and Cycle Trade Journal" that offered bare Harley-Davidson engines to the do-it-yourself trade. By April, complete motorcycles were in production on a very limited basis. In 1905 no more than a dozen machines were built in the backyard n 1906 Harley and the Davidsons built their first factory on Chestnut Street (later Juneau Avenue). This location remains the Motor Company's corporate headquarters today. The first Juneau Avenue plant was a modest 40 by 60-foot single-story wooden structure. That year around 50 motorcycles were produced.

(Source: 1.Corporate website of Harley Davidson)

Our Mission

"WE FULFILL DREAMS THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES OF MOTORCYCLING, BY PROVIDING TO MOTORCYCLISTS AND TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AN EXPANDING LINE OF MOTORCYCLES AND BRANDED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN SELECTED MARKET SEGMENTS."

VISION

Harley-Davidson, Inc. is an action-oriented, international company, a leader in its commitment to continuously improve our mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholders (customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, governments and society). Harley-Davidson believes the key to success is to balance stakeholders' interests through the empowerment of all employees to focus on value-added activities.

Our Values

 Tell the Truth.

 Be Fair.

 Keep Your Promises.

 Respect the Individual.

 Encourage Intellectual Curiosity.

The company fosters these values by actively communicating their importance and encouraging employee involvement and development. We believe that our business will be most successful if we tap the contributions of each of our people.

1. Analysis of Strategic Factors

INDUSTRY AN ALYSIS

It has better profit margin than the industry's average.