Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Apriliarsv]

https://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/harley-davidson-silicon-valley/

[ultratoad]

Looking for others to leave laying in a ditch I suppose ....

[Burton]

If they are going to make any EV's CA would be the place given the subsidies they would receive so this makes sense.

[Apriliarsv]

It seems kind of funny that hd was partners with Alta. Then that goes up in smoke
in half a year. Then HD says they will have a ev shop in ca by q4 18. That's a
quick turn around.

[Richard230]

https://electricmotorcycles.news/harley-davidson-creates-new-advanced-technology-rd-facility-in-silicon-valley/

Good luck finding experienced EV engineers lying around in Silicon Valley that live here and are willing to work for H-D. They would have to pay really big bucks to attract them from their current jobs.

[Doug S]

Seems like buyers' remorse on Harley's part, doesn't it? They opened their shiny new box and what was inside wasn't what they thought it was gonna be. Seems like they've decided to develop the exact technology they need in-house. Probably not a bad decision, and opening up their R&D center in "silicone" valley is also pretty wise, considering the talent they're going to need for the effort.

Kinda seems like they're still flailing, though. On the other hand, maybe this is what the EV world needs, a big auto manufacturer in trouble (Volkswagen) and a big bike manufacturer in trouble (Harley) to decide this is their best shot at turning over a new leaf. Tesla's pushing the art forward pretty well, but any musher will tell you that you need more than one dog on the team.

[ashnazg]

Is it feasible that the end game is Poach-Die-Kill?  Poach the existing makers' engineers, wait until those makers Die, then Kill the HD group altogether?  Was that the old Microsoft competition flattener playbook from way way back?

[Richard230]

Is it feasible that the end game is Poach-Die-Kill?  Poach the existing makers' engineers, wait until those makers Die, then Kill the HD group altogether?  Was that the old Microsoft competition flattener playbook from way way back?

And how about Brammo and Polaris. Not good examples there. 

[Apriliarsv]

ashnazg
Is it feasible that the end game is Poach-Die-Kill?

No. Our transportation is switching to ev. Nothing hd can do to prevent it. Look at
bicycles. Everyone from Audi to Yamaha is experimenting with or selling electric assisted
or powered bicycles.

r230
And how about Brammo and Polaris. Not good examples there.

Yes that was a strange move. Did polaris figure the numbers or technology would not be there for a
decade and just opt out or did polaris divert cash to revive Indian?



One of Europe's high end bicycle manufactures said in 5 years he did not think they would make
a nonassisted bicycle.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

There is no guarantee of any EV manufacturer succeeding yet.

I’m skeptical of this move. Optically, it’s aggressive and uncooperative, and HD’s marketing signals look muddled so far. This effort may just waste everyone’s time and money.