Just now Harley-Davidson had started according to own data with the first deliveries to dealers. But now the US motorcycle manufacturer has to stop the production and delivery of his first electric motorcycle LiveWire. The company justified this in a notice from Monday with a problem with the last quality checks. There were no further details at first.
But one thing is for sure: for Harley-Davidson, the breakdown is bitter - the manufacturer already suffers from falling demand and wanted to address new customer groups with the e-bike and boost sales. The demand was apparently but not least because of the high price so far not been too large, as the news agency Reuters reports.
(Read here a first driving impression of the E-Harley)
According to an internal memo quoted by the Wall Street Journal, there is a problem with the charger of the $ 30,000 vehicle. From when the LiveWire model is delivered again, is unclear for the time being. According to the company, further tests and analyzes are needed initially.
Harley-Davidsaon had presented the motorcycle in January at the CES technology show in Las Vegas together with the Japanese electronics group Panasonic.
Worried about the customers, trouble with the president
Harley boss Matt Levatich had hoped to finally attract younger customers with the e-motorcycles. The 116-year-old company has been battling for a long time with its customers getting older and older. Harley sells more than half of his motorcycles in the US. In 2018, domestic market sales fell more sharply than they had in four years, and a downturn is expected for the current year as well.
The company's relationship with US President Donald Trump has also hit negative headlines in the past. Trump had repeatedly sharply criticized the cult company and even supported calls for boycotts by his followers last year. Trump was upset because Harley-Davidson had announced that it would relocate part of its production abroad.