Harley rumors about changes for the MY 2020 Harley line-up (in addition to the LiveWire) range from the non-existent to the minimal. Our betting is on some new models, just to keep some momentum going, and to keep the 100 new bikes in 10 years counter ticking. Look for a new Touring model and 114" Softail, and maybe a new CVO. The strangest report we have heard so far is of a considerable reduction in the number of Sportsters being offered in the USA - but that would be too odd to be true, unless it is to plow the ground for a subsequent stand-alone mid-cycle announcement?
Harley has approved a cash dividend of $0.375 per share for the first quarter of 2019, an increase of +1.4% percent compared to the first quarter 2018 dividend of $0.37 per share, payable March 29 to Common stock shareholders of record as of March 14, 2019.
Following the difficulties encountered by Alta Motors after Harley's termination of its investment and collaboration agreement, BRP is reported to have purchased select assets (IP, patents and some physical assets) of Alta parent company Faster Faster, Inc. "as part of BRP's longstanding interest in new technologies and alternate energy sources for the powersports industry."
Harley has partnered with IBM Cloud for the H-DF Connect Service that LiveWire riders will have access to. The service will provide owners with 'concierge' services and allow the expansion of the use of IBM artificial intelligence (AI), analytics and IoT to "enhance and evolve the rider's experience of the vehicle." H-D Connect Service provides cellular connectivity and links a LiveWire owner with their motorcycle through their smartphone, using the latest version of the H-D app.
Harley-Davidson's financing business is seeking nearly $6.3 million from the owner of dealerships in Janesville and New Berlin, alleging check and inventory fraud and breach of contract. In addition, court records also show the owners of Iron Town Harley-Davidson in New Berlin (formerly known as Hal's H-D) plan to sell the store to focus on its Broadtracker Harley-Davidson, Janesville dealership.
Initially established in Peoria, Il. in 1990, Bob Wiebler has sold his Quad-Cities Harley-Davidson business (Davenport, IA) to Michael McGrath - part of a family that owns and operates numerous high-profile dealerships throughout Illinois and Iowa, including Lexus of Chicago, Honda of Chicago, Acura of Chicago, Lexus of Westmont, Ford Hyundai of Cedar Rapids, and many more. McGrath also owns and operates McGrath Harley-Davidson in Dubuque, McGrath Hawkeye Harley-Davidson in Coralville and McGrath Powersports of Cedar Rapids. It has been renamed McGrath Quad City Harley-Davidson and will remain at the current location.
Multiple dealer ownership group Windy City Motorcycle Company has formed what appears to be a joint venture business with Fox Powersports Chairman and CEO Dan DeVos. Windy City-Fox Motorsports will "serve the Greater Chicagoland Harley-Davidson retail market and position the iconic brand for continued success in the Chicago metropolitan area," with Windy City CEO Ozzie Giglio heading up the combined group. The deal includes the Milwaukee Motorcycle Company and Windy City dealerships, and adds the Fox owned Lakeshore H-D, Chicago H-D, (which will relocate from Glenview to Rosemont, Il.) and the recently opened Chicago H-D of Wrigleyville adjacent to the legendary home of the Chicago Cubs.
