Employee Benefit Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule Of Obligation And Funded Status

The following table provides the changes in the benefit obligations, fair value of plan assets and funded status of the Company’s pension, SERPA and postretirement healthcare plans as of the Company’s December 31, 2014 and 2013 measurement dates (in thousands):

	Pension and SERPA Benefits						Postretirement Healthcare Benefits
	2014			2013			2014			2013
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of period	$	1,714,650		$	1,871,575		$	366,524		$	403,227
Service cost	31,498			35,987			7,015			7,858
Interest cost	86,923			79,248			16,878			15,599
Actuarial (gains) losses	309,542			(199,408		)	(2,870		)	(33,729		)
Plan participant contributions	—			—			2,368			2,609
Benefits paid, net of Medicare Part D subsidy	(72,633		)	(72,752		)	(28,909		)	(29,040		)
Benefit obligation, end of period	2,069,980			1,714,650			361,006			366,524
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period	1,920,601			1,539,018			147,875			123,106
Actual return on plan assets	143,040			277,388			8,965			24,769
Company contributions	1,638			176,947			28,048			27,849
Plan participant contributions	—			—			2,368			2,609
Benefits paid	(72,633		)	(72,752		)	(30,416		)	(30,458		)
Fair value of plan assets, end of period	1,992,646			1,920,601			156,840			147,875
Funded status of the plans, December 31	$	(77,334	)	$	205,951		$	(204,166	)	$	(218,649	)
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31:
Prepaid benefit costs (long-term assets)	$	—		$	244,871		$	—		$	—
Accrued benefit liability (current liabilities)	(1,148		)	(2,549		)	(1,160		)	(2,484		)
Accrued benefit liability (long-term liabilities)	(76,186		)	(36,371		)	(203,006		)	(216,165		)
Net amount recognized	$	(77,334	)	$	205,951		$	(204,166	)	$	(218,649	)

Components Of Net Periodic Benefit Costs

Components of net periodic benefit costs for the years ended December 31 (in thousands):

	Pension and SERPA Benefits									Postretirement Healthcare Benefits
	2014			2013			2012			2014			2013			2012
Service cost	$	31,498		$	35,987		$	33,681		$	7,015		$	7,858		$	7,413
Interest cost	86,923			79,248			83,265			16,878			15,599			18,310
Expected return on plan assets	(136,734		)	(127,327		)	(117,110		)	(10,429		)	(9,537		)	(9,423		)
Amortization of unrecognized:
Prior service cost (credit)	1,119			1,746			2,958			(3,853		)	(3,853		)	(3,853		)
Net loss	36,563			58,608			43,874			4,729			8,549			7,421
Settlement loss	—			—			6,242			—			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	19,369		$	48,262		$	52,910		$	14,340		$	18,616		$	19,868

Schedule Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Recognized In Accumulated And Other Comprehensive Income

Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, at December 31, 2014 which have not yet been recognized in net periodic benefit cost are as follows (in thousands):

	Pension and SERPA Benefits		Postretirement Healthcare Benefits			Total
Prior service cost (credit)	$	1,685	$	(11,070	)	$	(9,385	)
Net actuarial loss	488,080		51,108			539,188
Total	$	489,765	$	40,038		$	529,803

Schedule Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Expected To Be Recognized

Amounts expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax, during the year ended December 31, 2015 are as follows (in thousands):

	Pension and SERPA Benefits		Postretirement Healthcare Benefits			Total
Prior service cost (credit)	$	274	$	(2,025	)	$	(1,751	)
Net actuarial loss	34,445		2,501			36,946
Total	$	34,719	$	476		$	35,195

Schedule Of Assumptions Used To Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost at December 31 were as follows:

	Pension and SERPA Benefits						Postretirement Healthcare Benefits
	2014		2013		2012		2014		2013		2012
Assumptions for benefit obligations:
Discount rate	4.21	%	5.08	%	4.23	%	3.99	%	4.70	%	3.93	%
Rate of compensation	4.00	%	4.00	%	4.00	%	n/a		n/a		n/a
Assumptions for net periodic benefit cost:
Discount rate	5.08	%	4.23	%	5.30	%	4.70	%	3.93	%	4.90	%
Expected return on plan assets	7.75	%	7.75	%	7.80	%	7.70	%	8.00	%	8.00	%
Rate of compensation increase	4.00	%	4.00	%	3.49	%	n/a		n/a		n/a

Schedule Of PBO In Excess Of Fair Value Of Plan Assets

The following table summarizes information related to Company pension plan with a PBO in excess of the fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2014 (in billions):

	2014
Pension plan with PBOs in excess of fair value of plan assets:
PBO	$	2.02
Fair value of plan assets	$	1.99
Number of plans	1

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]

The fair values of the Company’s postretirement healthcare plan assets as of December 31, 2014, were as follows (in thousands):

	Balance as of December 31, 2014		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	8,033	$	7,278	$	755	$	—
Equity holdings:
U.S. companies	75,349		75,349		—		—
Foreign companies	15,571		15,050		521		—
Pooled equity funds	19,138		19,138		—		—
Limited partnership interests	3,884		15		—		3,869
Total equity holdings	113,942		109,552		521		3,869
Fixed-income holdings:
U.S. Treasuries	11,457		11,457		—		—
Federal agencies	1,876		—		1,876		—
Corporate bonds	11,549		—		11,549		—
Pooled fixed income funds	8,996		—		8,996		—
Foreign bonds	770		—		770		—
Municipal bonds	217		—		217		—
Total fixed-income holdings	34,865		11,457		23,408		—
Total postretirement healthcare plan assets	$	156,840	$	128,287	$	24,684	$	3,869

The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets as of December 31, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

	Balance as of December 31, 2013		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	40,578	$	—	$	40,578	$	—
Equity holdings:
U.S. companies	519,405		516,444		2,961		—
Foreign companies	125,361		125,320		41		—
Harley-Davidson common stock	88,184		88,184		—		—
Pooled equity funds	558,004		558,004		—		—
Limited partnership interests	34,234		—		—		34,234
Total equity holdings	1,325,188		1,287,952		3,002		34,234
Fixed-income holdings:
U.S. Treasuries	34,044		34,044		—		—
Federal agencies	33,250		—		33,250		—
Corporate bonds	223,992		—		223,992		—
Pooled fixed income funds	212,465		51,959		160,506		—
Foreign bonds	40,885		—		40,885		—
Municipal bonds	10,199		—		10,199		—
Total fixed-income holdings	554,835		86,003		468,832		—
Total pension plan assets	$	1,920,601	$	1,373,955	$	512,412	$	34,234

The fair values of the Company’s postretirement healthcare plan assets, which did not contain any Level 3 assets, as of December 31, 2013, were as follows (in thousands):

	Balance as of December 31, 2013		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	8,402	$	—	$	8,402
Equity holdings:
U.S. companies	29,365		29,365		—
Foreign companies	18,010		17,630		380
Pooled equity funds	61,134		61,134		—
Total equity holdings	108,509		108,129		380
Fixed-income holdings:
U.S. Treasuries	9,488		9,488		—
Federal agencies	2,579		—		2,579
Corporate bonds	8,685		—		8,685
Pooled fixed income funds	8,977		—		8,977
Foreign bonds	941		—		941
Municipal bonds	294		—		294
Total fixed-income holdings	30,964		9,488		21,476
Total postretirement healthcare plan assets	$	147,875	$	117,617	$	30,258

The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets as of December 31, 2014 were as follows (in thousands):

	Balance as of December 31, 2014		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	38,131	$	2,965	$	35,166	$	—
Equity holdings:
U.S. companies	625,174		620,964		4,210		—
Foreign companies	109,088		109,088		—		—
Harley-Davidson common stock	83,942		83,942		—		—
Pooled equity funds	323,613		323,613		—		—
Limited partnership interests	31,227		140		1		31,086
Total equity holdings	1,173,044		1,137,747		4,211		31,086
Fixed-income holdings:
U.S. Treasuries	51,375		51,375		—		—
Federal agencies	45,282		—		45,282		—
Corporate bonds	376,454		—		376,454		—
Pooled fixed income funds	236,024		52,335		183,689		—
Foreign bonds	58,956		—		58,956		—
Municipal bonds	13,380		—		13,380		—
Total fixed-income holdings	781,471		103,710		677,761		—
Total pension plan assets	$	1,992,646	$	1,244,422	$	717,138	$	31,086

Schedule Of Reconciliation Of The Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs

The following table presents a reconciliation of the fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as of December 31, 2014 (in thousands):

	Limited Partnership Interests
Balance, beginning of period	$	—
Actual return on plan assets:
Relating to assets still held at the reporting date	(178		)
Purchases, sales and settlements	4,047
Balance, end of period	$	3,869

The following table presents a reconciliation of the fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as of December 31, 2014 (in thousands):

	Limited Partnership Interests
Balance, beginning of period	$	34,234
Actual return on plan assets:
Relating to assets still held at the reporting date	(3,178		)
Purchases, sales and settlements	30
Balance, end of period	$	31,086

The following table presents a reconciliation of the fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as of December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

	Total			Limited Partnership Interests			Other
Balance, beginning of period	$	36,582		$	35,954		$	628
Actual return on plan assets:
Relating to assets still held at the reporting date	2,951			2,951			—
Purchases, sales and settlements	(5,299		)	(4,671		)	(628		)
Balance, end of period	$	34,234		$	34,234		$	—

Schedule Of Weighted Average Health Care Cost Trend Rate

The weighted-average healthcare cost trend rate used in determining the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation of the healthcare plans was as follows:

	2014		2013
Healthcare cost trend rate for next year	8.0	%	8.0	%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate rate)	5.0	%	5.0	%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate	2021		2021

Schedule Of Weighted Average Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumption

This healthcare cost trend rate assumption can have a significant effect on the amounts reported. A one-percentage-point change in the assumed healthcare cost trend rate would have the following effects (in thousands):

	One Percent Increase		One Percent Decrease
Total of service and interest cost components in 2014	$	747	$	(726	)
Accumulated benefit obligation as of December 31, 2014	$	12,909	$	(12,001	)

Schedule Of Expected Benefit Payments And Medicare Subsidy Receipts For Next Five Years And Thereafter

The expected benefit payments and Medicare subsidy receipts for the next five years and thereafter were as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Benefits		SERPA Benefits		Postretirement Healthcare Benefits		Medicare Subsidy Receipts
2015	$	70,191	$	1,148	$	30,123	$	1,380
2016	$	71,110	$	4,064	$	28,455	$	—
2017	$	72,624	$	1,872	$	28,035	$	—
2018	$	74,515	$	1,793	$	26,964	$	—
2019	$	77,117	$	2,432	$	26,009	$	—
2020-2024	$	454,102	$	16,577	$	128,686	$	—