A business association representing several hundred Harley-Davidson dealerships has sided with a dissident Harley shareholder in its efforts to remove three board members and dismiss CEO Jochen Zeitz.
The National Powersports Dealer Association (NPDA) says its Harley-Davidson Council has many of the same concerns as Harley shareholder H Partners Management in its displeasure with the company’s management.
Harley dealerships have complained of being saddled with excessive motorcycle inventory and related discounting. Also, they’ve said the company has competed against them by selling parts, accessories and clothing online, sometimes at discounted prices and with free shipping.
NPDA says it represents more than 170 Harley dealerships in the United States.
“This is not a small number. And we are joined by eight separate regional Harley-Davidson dealer associations, representing an additional 168 dealers, who have raised the same concerns,” the association said in a May 6 statement.
NPDA said it has voiced its concerns to Harley over the past four years.
To date, no meaningful changes have occurred that would strengthen the Harley brand and the future of the dealer network, according to the association.
“Despite the fact that Dealers have invested significant time, talent and money in this company for 122 years, H-D’s current Chairman, Jochen Zeitz has dismissed dealers’ concerns by stating that our discontent is just noise by a small number of angry dealers seeking attention. This is simply not true,” the association said in its statement.
“The contribution of Harley-Davidson employees to the brand is critical to the success of the dealer network and we have the utmost respect for their partnership. While we cannot speak for employees, we note that the current widespread dealer discontent is aimed at Board leadership, not those who live and breathe the brand’s mission for success every day,” it said.
Harley-Davidson did not immediately respond to a Journal Sentinel request for comment.
The NPDA H-D Council says it was not organized to be a “take sides organization,” but instead one designed to collaborate on issues that are important to its collective business success.
“Unfortunately, there has been no collaboration under the company’s current leadership – forcing us to have to take a stand on behalf of our members,” the NPDA statement said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Harley dealerships lash out at company, side with dissident shareholder against CEO Zeitz
Reporting by Rick Barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
