Harley-Davidson began in Milwaukee in 1903, but Milwaukee is not a blanket description of where its motorcycles are made today. The company’s current directory lists manufacturing operations in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Brazil and Thailand. Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the publicly held parent company; it is not owned by one founder or family.
Where Harley-Davidson began
Harley-Davidson’s origins are in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company’s locations page says its headquarters stand at the site where the first factory—a wooden shed—was built in the backyard of the William C. Davidson family home. The Harley-Davidson Museum’s account identifies William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson as the sellers of the first motorcycle there in 1903. Walter Davidson joined that year, bringing machining experience, and William A. Davidson joined in 1907. The company incorporated on September 17, 1907, with Walter as its first president and general manager. Harley-Davidson locations; Harley-Davidson Museum history.
The origin story involves more than a backyard workshop: Harley contributed engineering work, Arthur Davidson product and business contributions, and Walter Davidson machining and manufacturing experience, according to the Museum’s founders account.
Where Harley-Davidson motorcycles are made
Harley-Davidson’s current locations directory lists manufacturing operations in the United States, Brazil and Thailand. It identifies the following sites and functions:
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| Location | Listed operation |
|---|---|
| York, Pennsylvania | Vehicle Operations |
| Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin | Powertrain Operations |
| Tomahawk, Wisconsin | Tomahawk Operations |
| Manaus, Brazil | Harley-Davidson do Brasil Ltda Assembly Plant |
| Rayong, Thailand | Thailand Sales Office and Assembly Plant |
These are the manufacturing locations listed on the company’s locations page; the directory is a company page that can change, not a dated audited report detailing which site makes every model or component. The page identifies Milwaukee as the company’s headquarters and birthplace, but does not list it as a current manufacturing location. So “made in Milwaukee” should not be used as a general description of present-day production.
Planned North American production changes
On June 9, 2026, Harley-Davidson announced plans to bring North American Revolution Max machining, powertrain assembly, painting and final vehicle assembly work back to facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The company named the Pan America, Sportster S and Nightster, and said it expected the transition to finish before Model Year 2028 production in 2027. It projected that York would produce more than 100,000 motorcycles in 2027. Those are company expectations announced in June 2026—not confirmation that the transition has since been completed or that the projected output was achieved. Harley-Davidson’s June 9, 2026 announcement.
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Who owns Harley-Davidson today?
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the current parent company and is publicly held. Its 2025 annual filing reported 111,850,563 common shares outstanding as of January 30, 2026. That is a dated share count, not a count of individual owners. The sources establish the public-company structure but do not identify the largest current beneficial shareholders.
A June 2026 company announcement identifies Harley-Davidson Motor Company as a subsidiary and says Harley-Davidson, Inc. has controlling interests in Harley-Davidson Financial Services and LiveWire Group, Inc. These corporate relationships distinguish the parent from the motorcycle business and other companies it controls. Harley-Davidson’s 2025 Form 10-K; June 2026 company announcement.
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- Officially Licensed Replica – Authentic styling and branding from the original manufacturer
- Die-Cast Metal Construction – Durable metal body with detailed plastic components
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How ownership changed over time
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1969 | AMF acquired Harley-Davidson. |
| 1973 | During the AMF era, motorcycle assembly moved to York, Pennsylvania; the company archive says the move was completed that year. |
| 1981 | Thirteen senior leaders led by Vaughn Beals bought the company back from AMF, a management buyback. |
| 1986 | Harley-Davidson, Inc. became publicly held, according to the company’s historical annual report. |
The company’s account of these milestones is in its history archive. The key distinction is that the AMF period ended with the 1981 buyback; the later public-company structure is not continued AMF ownership.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the company’s scale figures mean
Harley-Davidson’s undated locations page says it has more than 5,000 employees worldwide and more than 1,400 independently owned dealerships in nearly 100 countries. These are figures stated by the company on that page, not independently audited statistics presented here.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Collectible quality True-to-scale detailed vehicle
- Die-cast metal body with plastic parts
- Officially licensed Harley Davidson product by Maisto International
- Highly-detailed die-cast precision model for collectible or play
- Detailed die-cast precision model
Rank #4
- Officially Licensed Replica – Authentic styling and branding from the original manufacturer
- Die-Cast Metal Construction – Durable metal body with detailed plastic components
- Highly Detailed Design – Realistic exterior styling and interior details
- Free-Rolling Wheels – Smooth movement for display or play
- Perfect for Collectors & Kids – Great gift for automotive fans
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