Posted by
steven anderson on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 1:17:01 AM
Back in 1903 Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson began building motorcycles. Around the same time, so did the various entities that became GM, Ford and Chrysler. Harley-Davidson produced some very nice motorcycles for the times, and soon developed a solid consumer following for their products. Harley continued to sell motorcycles everyone wanted, until the English invaded the motorcycle market, beginning in earnest after the second world war. The English products were every bit as good as Harley offered, and appealed to a wider variety of customers. Harley sales suffered, but the company maintained due to the icon status it had established with the American consumer.
The English motorcycle sales really began to cut into Harley sales. Consumers were buying English motorcycles in increasing numbers. Then in the 1960s, the Japanese entered the motorcycle market. In a very few years their products provided a mass appeal to consumers, and the English motorcycles virtually disappeared, and Harley became a shell of itself. Much like GM, Chrysler, and Ford are today.
Poor management, and a poorly selling product forced Harley to merge with AMF in 1969. The product produced by this merger became forgettable. Sales declined even more. It appeared the writing was on the wall for the company's demise. Then, the company was purchased from AMF by former management, restructured, and the Harley Davidson motorcycle was redesigned to appeal to the consumer, and rolled out to the public.
The new Harley Davidson had at its heart, a new engine named the Evolution motor. The name was fitting. Consumers not only were overjoyed by the product quality, the appeal of the product again became almost legendary in stature. Within a decade Harley Davidson roared back, establishing a solid niche in the motorcycle market, a well designed product, selling to a consumer who appreciated the options the new Harley offered over the old motorcycle.
GM, Ford and Chrysler need an evolution for their vehicles. The big three can build products every American consumer would buy, that is if the consumer believes they are receiving fair value for their money.
Harley Davidson revived itself to its former status as an icon, and beyond .The company did nothing more than produce good products, in an atmosphere where all enjoyed in the success of the company. The big three can do the same, but the bandit capitalism employed by the corporate raiders called management, must first be shown the door. If the big three built cars the way Harley Davidson now builds motorcycles, the big three would be the top three once again.
Let the evolution begin.