I see on the news that HD is closing it's  Plympton wheel manufacturing operations and moving overseas to save money.

Chinese wheels??

It's possible. America are learning (albeit slower than other countries) that what we have all established is a global economy. Yes I'd love to believe that Harley's are 100% American made, but it just doesn't happen.

I'll share a little bit of wisdom being a Customs broker here in Australia.

To be classified as US origin a good or material generally only has to be transformed from one thing, into another. Ie : Chinese steel tubes --> motorcycle chassis welded in America = American made.

 

QUOTE< 

Did you know that Harley-Davidson cast wheels and hubs are made in South Australia? In 2006 Harley-Davidson acquired New Castalloy in order to save a valuable supplier.  The move also saved more than 300 jobs held by skillful Australians and valued by Harley-Davidson.

END QUOTE

 

Source; syshd.com.au/blog/2011/03/april-2009-made-in-australia-issue/

 

didn't last long,,, Ouch

The sign of times guys....Cut maufacturing cost by going to China...Same cost to us though !!

I hope this doesnt come across as racists
re the chinese and a lot of the products they make imo for a people who make a fuck load of people they seem to have little regard for human life .
I bought a pair of cheap sunny's made in china (Rims) and a chemical in the lenses leached out as a vapour and burned my eyes .There where kids sised sunny's on the same rack .I complained but as far as I know they are still for sale .

man why I dont I read threads before i post one just the same--looks like ill have to give myself an upper cut---cheers Grim

Hey we gotta remember its not the poor little chinese workers that make the money--they are whipped worse than us--just another fatcat business man exploiting the already underprivlaged----(fuck where did that come from) cheers Grim

New Castalloy made a reported $5.5m profit last year.

Exchange rate in 2006 was about 60c+ to the dollar. Fast forward to today the same wheels cost HD USA about 70% more.

We can not compete with a country that controls and manipulates it's own exchange rate for predatory tactics. Wait until most manufacturing has gone from here then chinese prices will increase. Has already been mentioned but is the same as what Woolworths and Coles have done to groceries, hardware, and liquor.

Sad for our country and manufacturing future.

 

The Chinese don't list themselves on the world stockmarket.
It's been reported that the Chinese currency (yuan) is currently about 30% undervalued by there goverment.

How can anyone compete.
The level playing field has been thrown out the window.

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