Harley and the Biker Wars - Live to Ride | 6
Business Wars
Audible
4.6 • 13.5K Ratings
🗓️ 2 September 2019
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
By the early 1980s, Harley-Davidson is fighting to survive. Japan has glutted the American market with bikes, creating a war Harley can’t fight alone. The company turns to the U.S. government. It’s something they tried in the ‘50s with no success, but now there’s a man in the White House who loves the all-American Milwaukee brand.
In the years ahead Harley stands tall, surviving all manner of battles. But there’s one foe that never stops: time. The company needs to appeal to a new generation of young riders who may not be attracted to Harley hogs — or motorcycles at all. It’s yet another vexing chapter for the 116-year-old company that refuses to die.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, prime members, you can listen to business wars, add free on Amazon music. |
| 0:04.8 | Download the app today. |
| 0:05.8 | It's a cold day in November 1982 in Washington, D.C. |
| 0:18.7 | Harley Davidson is fighting for its life. |
| 0:22.9 | The company is requested a hearing with the International Trade Commission, and it's |
| 0:26.6 | about to happen. |
| 0:28.1 | After weathering decades of battering from foreign competitors, the Milwaukee company is getting |
| 0:32.8 | crushed by the big four Japanese imports, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and the Mighty Honda. |
| 0:40.6 | Harley has one last hope to survive. |
| 0:44.2 | Convince the U.S. government to levy a heavy import tariff against the Japanese. |
| 0:49.5 | The company petitioned the government to do this in the 1950s. |
| 0:53.3 | They were turned down. |
| 0:57.5 | In a hearing room in the Trade Commission building near Capitol Hill, a Harley lawyer speaks. |
| 1:03.7 | Commissioners Harley Davidson has always specialized in manufacturing heavyweight motorcycles. |
| 1:09.2 | This has been our traditional niche. |
| 1:11.4 | Now the Japanese are making machines in that category and dumping them in America in such |
| 1:16.6 | numbers that they're creating a blood on the market. |
| 1:20.2 | In 1981, there are more than 200,000 bikes imported from Japan. |
| 1:26.2 | And at same year, Harley makes only about 41,000 cycles. |
| 1:31.6 | And Honda bikes are selling at less than half the price of Harley's, which can cost |
| 1:36.5 | up to $7,000. |
| 1:39.3 | I see internal investors bought back your company last year from AMF. |
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