Harley-Davidson Weighing Moving Production Plant

DAN STRUMPF

NEW YORK (AP) — Harley-Davidson Inc. is considering closing its main motorcycle assembly facility in Pennsylvania and moving production elsewhere as it aims to lower costs and cope with a sales downturn, a company spokesman said Wednesday.

Spokesman Bob Klein said the Milwaukee-based company is exploring ways to reduce costs at its York location. That could include a move, though he declined to say where. The York facility employs about 2,400 workers and consists of two motorcycle factories that assemble its Touring and Softail motorcycles.

Klein said the York facility is not competitive as it stands.

"It relates to excess capacity, it relates to competitive and cost pressures both in the current economy and longer term," Klein said. "So what we've told employees is that we are going to be doing a major evaluation of the York operations."

He said the company is working with its union, the Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, as it conducts a review on the facility. He declined to say what other locations might be under consideration for a move.