- Harley-Davidson stops production of its LiveWire electric bike
- Encounters quality issues with charging equipment
- Requests existing customers to charge the bike at the dealership
Harley-Davidson has reportedly ceased the production and shipping of its first electric motorcycle, the LiveWire. The American bike maker made this announcement after encountering an issue during the quality inspection of the motorcycle. Although it’s a temporary halt, the company hasn’t revealed when the production and deliveries will resume.
As per a report by the Wall Street Journal, a glitch has been noticed in the charging equipment of the LiveWire. The company has requested the existing owners of the motorcycle to charge it at the dedicated points in Harley dealerships, instead of juicing it up at their homes. The low-voltage charging points in the residences may induce problems in the motorcycle. Besides the charging-related fault, the motorcycles are safe to ride, as ensured by the brand.
The LiveWire is Harley-Davidson’s first product in its electric portfolio, which will be expanded with more offerings in the future. The electric motorcycle was unveiled in 2014 as a concept model while the production version was introduced in 2018. The e-bike is on sale in American and European markets and the deliveries have already commenced. The LiveWire was also revealed in India in August this year and the official launch was expected to take place in the coming months. However, the production halt may now disrupt the overall supply chain resulting in a substantial delay in its launch in India.
Harley-Davidson is one of the most popular bike makers in the American market. However, it has been recording a major sales slump in the American region for a few months. Now, with the manufacturers shifting their focus towards electric mobility, Harley too is hoping to regain its strong foothold with electric two-wheelers.
