Harley-Davidson to build Revolution Max bikes in the USA once again

While many motorcycle manufacturers are increasingly shifting production away from their home countries and into lower-cost markets across Asia, Harley-Davidson has announced a move that goes in the totally opposite direction

The American brand says production of its Revolution Max platform motorcycles for the North American market will return to the United States, with manufacturing work moving to facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin ahead of the 2028 model year.

The decision affects Harley-Davidson's liquid-cooled Revolution Max bikes, including the Pan America range, the Sportster S and the Nightster. Once the transition is complete, machining, powertrain assembly, painting and final vehicle assembly will all take place in the US.

It's a notable move at a time when several major manufacturers have expanded production outside their traditional home bases. Triumph now builds bikes in Thailand, while Ducati produces a number of models in Asia and South America. Other brands have followed similar paths as they seek to reduce costs and increase production flexibility.

Harley-Davidson, however, is going back to its roots, and it all stems from the Milwaukee brand’s ‘Back to Bricks’ business strategy. It expects the transition to be fully completed before 2028 model year production begins in 2027. It also forecasts that more than 100,000 motorcycles will be built at its York, Pennsylvania, facility during that year.

In announcing the decision, Harley-Davidson cited changes in US trade policy and shifts in the global trading environment as factors that have created fresh opportunities for domestic manufacturing investment. The company says the move will support dozens of additional manufacturing jobs, including union positions, across its Pennsylvania and Wisconsin facilities.

Speaking about the transition, Bill Davidson, Vice President, Special Advisor to the CEO and Global Brand Ambassador, said:

"My family has spent generations working in this company, and I've seen firsthand the pride, craftsmanship, and hard work that go into building Harley-Davidson motorcycles in America. 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."

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