Harley Chairman and Chief Executive Jeffrey Bleustein went one better over the earnings news and raised the company's 2001 production target by 2,000, to 229,000 bikes. And retail in general is in hitting a soft spot. We have close contact with our dealer network. We know what retail prices are. We know what the outlook is, and we know that demand remains strong.
Some customers wait longer.
Harley's worldwide dealer base has doubled in 15 years, to 1,300. Ziemer says the company will add just a few dealerships in the U.S. this year but will invest in expanding more throughout Europe. Controlled growth has helped us be successful. We will never attempt to meet demand. That controlled growth has helped add to the Harley mystique.