
Harley-Davidson Plans Silicon Valley R&D Center
Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson, Inc. plans to establish a new research and development facility in Northern California to support its future product portfolio, including the company’s first complete line of electric vehicles. The new leased facility, which will serve as a satellite of the Willie G. Davidson Product Development Facility in Wauwatosa, WI, is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2018, though a site has yet to be selected.
The company is initially hiring roughly 25 people from the Silicon Valley to focus on electric vehicle research and development, including battery, power electronics and e-machine design, development and advanced manufacturing. Long term, the company may consider expanding the center’s focus to an increased range of advanced technologies that uniquely leverage the rich talent in the Silicon Valley.
Harley-Davidson plans to launch its first electric motorcycle, LiveWire (pictured), in 2019. It will be followed by additional models through 2022.
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