JAKARTA - Harley-Davidson's board of directors is facing huge pressure after the company posted a significant net loss in the quarter ending December 31, 2025. This decline in performance caused the company's revenue to fall by 28 percent and triggered massive efficiency measures that directly impacted thousands of workers.
Quoted from Visordown, Monday, February 16, CEO Artie Starrs who has only been in office since August 2025 must now make a difficult decision to save the company's financial condition. One of the main strategies taken is to cut operating costs by up to 150 million US dollars or around Rp. 2.3 trillion.
The move includes a large-scale reduction in the number of employees. Although management has not announced a definitive figure, this efficiency policy is expected to affect thousands of workers in various lines, from manufacturing to corporations.
Starrs stated that Harley-Davidson's current cost structure and production capacity are no longer in line with declining market demand. The company has been operating at a capacity designed for a sales volume much higher than the actual conditions.
"We are undertaking a comprehensive review of our cost base and operational expenditure, with the support of third-party specialists," Starrs said.
He emphasized that the imbalance between production and demand must be immediately corrected so that companies do not continue to bear the burden of excessive costs. However, this decision has major social consequences, especially for employees who are threatened with losing their jobs amid an unstable global economic situation.
The powersports industry in general is facing a tough challenge. High interest rates, weakening purchasing power, and geopolitical uncertainty make consumers postpone the purchase of premium goods such as big motorcycles.
For Harley-Davidson, restructuring and layoffs are considered an inevitable step to maintain business continuity. However, the impact on thousands of workers is another side of the effort to save the legendary company. In the future, the effectiveness of this strategy will determine whether Harley-Davidson is able to rise or is even more depressed amid global market turmoil.
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