Harley-Davidson is establishing a new research and development facility in Northern California to support its future product portfolio — primarily a forthcoming range of e-bikes starting with the Livewire model in 2019.
Commenting on this move, Harley chief executive Matt Levatich said: “Recently we shared with the world our accelerated plans to build the next generation of Harley-Davidson riders globally. This new R&D facility in the heart of Silicon Valley will help us deliver on those plans and demonstrate our commitment to lead the electrification of the sport.”
The new Californian operation should be up and running within the next couple of months, employing an initial staff of about 25 mainly hired from within the Silicon Valley area. It will function as a satellite of Harley’s Willie G Davidson Product Development Centre at Wauwatosa in Wisconsin. The company says it has already begun recruiting electrical, mechanical and software engineers with experience in developing and delivering EV systems from design through to production.
The centre will focus on EV research and development, including batteries, power electronics, bike design and advanced manufacturing. According to Harley, it will: “uniquely leverage the rich talent in Silicon Valley and support a comprehensive and competitive line-up of motorcycles across a broad spectrum of price points, power sources and riding styles.”