Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson is bringing some manufacturing work back to the United States with plans to make its Revolution Max engine line in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. That work is currently done at the company’s assembly plant in Thailand, according to SEC filings.
Work including machining, powertrain assembly, painting and final vehicle assembly will return to Harley-Davidson’s facilities in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, supporting “dozens of additional American manufacturing and union jobs” and strengthening the company’s domestic manufacturing footprint, according to a press release from the company.
The work is slated to begin in 2027 ahead of the production start for 2028 motorcycle models. Once the transition to repatriate operations is completed in 2027, the company expects its York, Pennsylvania, plant to produce more than 100,000 fully assembled motorcycles.
“The Trump administration’s changes to U.S. trade policy, combined with shifts in the global trade environment, have created new opportunities for companies to invest in domestic manufacturing,” the company said in a statement. “For Harley-Davidson under our new CEO (Arthur) Starrs, this means we are able to lean even further into our American manufacturing footprint and build more motorcycles here at home. This decision, which has been months in the making, reflects our commitment to strengthening Harley-Davidson’s manufacturing base for the long term.”
In 2018, Trump criticized Harley for moving production work overseas. Earlier this year, the company said tariffs had cost the company $67 million in 2025.
Harley’s Revolution Max engines are used in motorcycles such as the Pan America, the Nightster and the Sportster S, a middleweight, highly customizable motorcycle with an air-cooled powertrain and an accessible starting price point, reintroduced to the company’s portfolio a month ago under Starrs’ Back to the Bricks strategy. Its first models will roll out in 2027 after five years off the market.
The company announced the relaunch of the Sportster and Sprint models in tandem with other Back to the Bricks initiatives including a heightened focus on the company’s dealership network; efforts to recapture shares; a restructuring to improve cash flow and EBITDA margins; and leadership changes, some of which have already been made.
Harley-Davidson’s manufacturing operations in Wisconsin include an 849,000-square-foot engine manufacturing facility in Menomonee Falls and a painting facility in Tomahawk.
“My family has spent generations working in this company and I’ve seen firsthand the pride, craftsmanship and hard work that goes into building Harley-Davidson motorcycles in America,” said vice president, global brand ambassador and special advisor to the CEO Bill Davidson. “My father, Willie, my sister, Karen, and I are incredibly excited about what’s happening at Harley-Davidson. Bringing this work back home is another important step in getting back to the bricks, investing in American manufacturing, and building on the values that have made Harley-Davidson one of the most iconic brands in the world.”
Harley-Davidson’s website says its York, Pennsylvania facility is temporarily closed. There is no mention of an expected reopening date.
The company declined to comment on the number of jobs to be added or expected output from its Wisconsin facilities.