Motorbike maker Harley-Davidson Inc. stated on Thursday it should construct a plant in Thailand, a significant Asian automotive hub, to serve the rising Southeast Asian market, a transfer criticized by a U.S. labor union. The corporate didn't give a determine for the deliberate funding in Thailand's Rayong province, southeast of Bangkok. Katie Whitmore, Harley-Davidson public relations supervisor, stated the corporate had its finest leads to Asia-Pacific in 2016, although she gave no numbers. The Thailand facility "will permit us to be extra responsive and aggressive within the Asean area and China," Harley-Davidson public relations supervisor Katie Whitmore stated. "Elevated entry and affordability for our clients within the area is vital to progress for the corporate in complete," she stated. "There isn't any intent to cut back H-D U.S. manufacturing on account of this growth." The plant would let Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson keep away from Thailand's as much as 60 % tariff on imported bikes and assist it get tax breaks when exporting to Thailand's neighbors, due to a commerce association amongst members of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN). Harley opened a plant in India in 2011. It additionally assembles bikes at a plant in Brazil. After the New York Occasions reported on Harley's deliberate Thai funding, United Steelworkers (USW) Worldwide President Leo W. Gerard on Tuesday stated the choice was "a slap within the face to the American employee and to tons of of 1000's of Harley riders throughout the nation." USW represents members at Harley vegetation in two U.S. states and 850,000 employees in North America. Gerard additionally stated that manufacturing exterior the U.S. "places in jeopardy the success that has propelled Harley over time." Whitmore stated bikes assembled in Thailand would have the identical "genuine look, sound and really feel" as these manufactured within the U.S. Demand for Harley bikes within the U.S., the corporate's greatest market, continues to be gradual as its loyal child boomer demographic modifications ages.
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