Harley-Davidson tells employees a reduction in force is underway as it targets major cost savings

Workforce notice arrives amid a broader cost review and weaker motorcycle demand

Harley-Davidson has notified employees that it is carrying out a “reduction in force,” a term commonly used by employers to describe job cuts tied to position eliminations or organizational restructuring. The company has not publicly released a figure for how many roles are being eliminated or which locations and teams are affected.

The workforce move follows a period of softer operating performance for the motorcycle maker. In its most recent annual report covering 2025 results, Harley-Davidson reported net income attributable to the company of $338.7 million, down from $455.4 million in 2024. The company also reported that worldwide dealer retail unit sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles decreased 12.4% in 2025 compared with 2024.

Cost reductions framed as part of a multi-year reset

In the same filing, Harley-Davidson said it is reviewing its cost base, including operating expenses, in response to the “current retail and wholesale environment.” The company said it expects that review to identify opportunities to reduce its cost base, targeting at least $150 million in total annual savings across its Harley-Davidson Motor Company and financial services segments compared with its current cost base.

Harley-Davidson indicated that it expects to identify and act on those opportunities so that savings begin in 2027. It also described those savings as incremental to productivity savings it expects to achieve by the end of 2026.

Why a reduction in force may not show up in public layoff filings

Not all job cuts trigger public advance-notice requirements. Federal WARN Act thresholds generally apply to larger layoffs at a single site, and Wisconsin’s notice requirements use different triggers depending on the size and structure of a workforce at a specific location. As a result, reductions spread across multiple sites or below threshold levels may not be reflected in state dislocated-worker notice databases.

Milwaukee footprint remains central as operations consolidate

Harley-Davidson has continued to emphasize Milwaukee as a key hub while seeking efficiencies. The company previously announced plans to consolidate certain operations at its historic Juneau Avenue headquarters campus, including moves involving LiveWire operations. Separate workforce policies in recent months have also pointed more employees back to the office, underscoring an effort to concentrate work in Milwaukee-area facilities even as overall costs are scrutinized.

• Employees have been notified that a reduction in force is underway; the company has not published a total affected headcount.
• Harley-Davidson has reported lower 2025 profit and weaker motorcycle retail sales compared with 2024.
• The company has set a target of at least $150 million in annual cost savings beginning in 2027 through a cost-base review.

In corporate practice, “reduction in force” typically denotes role eliminations tied to restructuring, rather than performance-based terminations.

Harley-Davidson has not provided a timeline for when the current reduction in force will be completed, or whether additional workforce actions may follow as its strategic planning and cost review continue.