By Zoila Palma: Harley-Davidson dealerships across the United States are shutting down, marking a troubling trend for the iconic motorcycle brand’s retail presence, Yahoo reports.
Long-standing shops from San Francisco to New York and Florida have folded, with some citing poor management, economic strain, and falling sales. Others closed abruptly without explanation.
Even century-old family dealerships have been unable to survive, highlighting a shrinking network despite more than 650 locations still operating nationwide.
Industry experts say the closures trace back to the post-pandemic economic shift. During COVID-19, low inventory and high demand led to record sales at full price.
But once the surge subsided, interest rates spiked and demand fell sharply. Manufacturers continued pushing excess inventory into dealerships, saddling them with costly “floor plan” interest on unsold bikes.
Many dealers had also invested heavily in large, expensive facilities during the boom years, creating high fixed costs that became unsustainable as customer traffic dropped and Harley’s expanded e-commerce platform diverted sales online.
Harley-Davidson remains profitable—reporting $377 million in earnings for the third quarter of 2025—but that success masks deeper challenges.
Global motorcycle sales fell 6% and North American sales dropped 5%, reflecting weakening demand.
CEO Artie Starrs attributed the company’s strong financial report to selling its financial services arm for $1.25 billion, not an increase in motorcycle sales.
The post International News: Harley-Davidson dealerships close across U.S. as sales decline and costs rise appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Harley-Davidson dealerships across the United States are shutting down, marking a troubling trend for the iconic motorcycle brand’s retail presence, Yahoo reports. Long-standing shops from San Francisco to New York and Florida have folded, with some citing poor management, economic strain, and falling sales. Others closed abruptly without explanation. Even century-old family
The post International News: Harley-Davidson dealerships close across U.S. as sales decline and costs rise appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.