Harley-Davidson suspends most US production, Menomonee Falls employee tests positive for coronavirus
![](/images/cbslogo_gray.png?x)
-
1:48
Man charged in Prince McCree’s murder sentenced to life in...
-
1:43
Onlookers enjoy Air and Water Show practice ahead of big weekend...
-
1:26
Brewers help fight hunger at Summer Sizzle event
-
2:07
’Justice, fairness, equity’: Milwaukee County leaders celebrate...
-
2:58
CBS 58 checks out Milwaukee’s 42nd annual German Fest
-
5:21
CBS 58’s Feel Good Fridays: Lakefront fun, German Fest and...
-
2:40
Meet CBS 58’s Pet of the Week: Esther
-
2:02
Pleasant start to a busy weekend in Milwaukee
-
2:10
Armed robbery attempt ends with gunfire exchange in Wauwatosa,...
-
3:08
Drew Burgoyne tastes treats in Tosa
-
3:06
Eduardo Galvan appointed MPS interim superintendent, despite...
-
2:13
Multiple festivals expected to draw thousands to Milwaukee’s...
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Harley-Davidson announced Wednesday that the company will be suspending production at the majority of U.S. facilities as of March 18.
This includes a closure of the Wisconsin facilities Tomahawk Operations and Pilgrim Road Powertrain Operations in Menomonee Falls.
Harley-Davidson closed its Pilgrim Road Powertrain Operations facility Wednesday afternoon after an employee tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The company says the facility will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
On Monday, Harley-Davidson asked employees at its Milwaukee-area headquarters and Product Development Center to work remotely if possible through at least the end of March.
All Harley-Davidson sponsored events have been canceled until mid-April.
Marquette economics professor Heather Kohls said the Harley shut down will have a trickle down effect to smaller Milwaukee businesses.
She says Harley-Davidson would not have done well in during this pandemic regardless, and it might make since to wait a little.
“For Harley-Davidson, their product is not really a necessity," Kohls said. "So as a result, it’s one of the first products we see cut in a recession like this, so it looks to me like they had an employee that got sick, and decided to close their plant, but it’s also not a bad plan to slow production down a little bit, so they can give the economy time to start to grow.”