Harley-Davidson says it will launch an electric motorcycle in 2019
Harley rolled out an electric concept bike four years ago, but didn’t follow it up with a production two-wheeler
By Matthew DeBord
Harley-Davidson got the biking world pretty excited in 2014 when it rolled out the LiveWire electric concept. But a concept was what it remained, although over the years the company dropped some hints that it might, maybe, possibly take the plunge.
According to CEO Matthew Levatich, the electric hog will hit the streets in less than two years.
“The EV market is in its infancy today and we believe it will drive excitement into our sport globally in both traditional and nontraditional spaces,” he said on a conference call with analysts, following Harley’s reporting of weak fourth-quarter, alongside full-year 2017, earnings.
“You’ve heard us talk about Project LiveWire,” he added. “LiveWire is an exhilarating, no excuses, electric Harley-Davidson. Over 12,000 riders told us so through the demo rides we provided around the world and it’s an active project we’re preparing to bring to market within 18 months.”
The overall motorcycle market is facing some headwinds in the coming years. Sales have recovered in the US since the financial crisis, but they’re less than half what they were when peak bike hit, back in 2016 with 1.6 million two-wheelers sold. The industry is struggling to attract new riders, despite an onslaught of smaller, less-intimidating machines from Ducati, Honda, and even Harley, which for decades has been king of the road with its hulking cruisers.
