Employee Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

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, 2016 and 2015 measurement dates (in thousands):

	Pension and SERPA Benefits						Postretirement Healthcare Benefits
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of period	$	2,009,000		$	2,069,980		$	354,739		$	361,006
Service cost	33,437			40,039			7,478			8,259
Interest cost	90,827			87,345			14,814			14,166
Actuarial losses (gains)	13,481			(128,082		)	(4,647		)	(6,757		)
Plan participant contributions	—			—			2,669			2,587
Plan amendments	—			6,407			—			—
Special early retirement benefits	—			10,563			—			622
Benefits paid, net of Medicare Part D subsidy	(160,310		)	(77,252		)	(28,622		)	(25,144		)
Benefit obligation, end of period	1,986,435			2,009,000			346,431			354,739
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period	1,841,967			1,992,646			156,765			156,840
Actual return on plan assets	188,376			(77,980		)	13,327			(75		)
Company contributions	25,000			—			—			—
Plan participant contributions	—			—			2,669			2,587
Benefits paid	(155,454		)	(72,699		)	(2,669		)	(2,587		)
Fair value of plan assets, end of period	1,899,889			1,841,967			170,092			156,765
Funded status of the plans, December 31	$	(86,546	)	$	(167,033	)	$	(176,339	)	$	(197,974	)
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31:
Accrued benefit liability (current liabilities)	$	(2,104	)	$	(2,145	)	$	(3,072	)	$	(4,315	)
Accrued benefit liability (long-term liabilities)	(84,442		)	(164,888		)	(173,267		)	(193,659		)
Net amount recognized	$	(86,546	)	$	(167,033	)	$	(176,339	)	$	(197,974	)

Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet

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, 2016 and 2015 measurement dates (in thousands):

	Pension and SERPA Benefits						Postretirement Healthcare Benefits
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of period	$	2,009,000		$	2,069,980		$	354,739		$	361,006
Service cost	33,437			40,039			7,478			8,259
Interest cost	90,827			87,345			14,814			14,166
Actuarial losses (gains)	13,481			(128,082		)	(4,647		)	(6,757		)
Plan participant contributions	—			—			2,669			2,587
Plan amendments	—			6,407			—			—
Special early retirement benefits	—			10,563			—			622
Benefits paid, net of Medicare Part D subsidy	(160,310		)	(77,252		)	(28,622		)	(25,144		)
Benefit obligation, end of period	1,986,435			2,009,000			346,431			354,739
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period	1,841,967			1,992,646			156,765			156,840
Actual return on plan assets	188,376			(77,980		)	13,327			(75		)
Company contributions	25,000			—			—			—
Plan participant contributions	—			—			2,669			2,587
Benefits paid	(155,454		)	(72,699		)	(2,669		)	(2,587		)
Fair value of plan assets, end of period	1,899,889			1,841,967			170,092			156,765
Funded status of the plans, December 31	$	(86,546	)	$	(167,033	)	$	(176,339	)	$	(197,974	)
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31:
Accrued benefit liability (current liabilities)	$	(2,104	)	$	(2,145	)	$	(3,072	)	$	(4,315	)
Accrued benefit liability (long-term liabilities)	(84,442		)	(164,888		)	(173,267		)	(193,659		)
Net amount recognized	$	(86,546	)	$	(167,033	)	$	(176,339	)	$	(197,974	)

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
	2016			2015			2014			2016			2015			2014
Service cost	$	33,437		$	40,039		$	31,498		$	7,478		$	8,259		$	7,015
Interest cost	90,827			87,345			86,923			14,814			14,166			16,878
Special early retirement benefits	—			10,563			—			—			622			—
Expected return on plan assets	(145,781		)	(144,929		)	(136,734		)	(12,069		)	(11,506		)	(10,429		)
Amortization of unrecognized:
Prior service cost (credit)	1,019			435			1,119			(2,803		)	(3,217		)	(3,853		)
Net loss	46,351			54,709			36,563			3,537			3,971			4,729
Settlement loss	1,463			368			—			—			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	27,316		$	48,530		$	19,369		$	10,957		$	12,295		$	14,340

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, 2016 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)	$	4,804	$	(7,279	)	$	(2,475	)
Net actuarial loss	464,804		46,250			511,054
Total	$	469,608	$	38,971		$	508,579

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, 2017 are as follows (in thousands):

	Pension and SERPA Benefits		Postretirement Healthcare Benefits			Total
Prior service cost (credit)	$	641	$	(1,367	)	$	(726	)
Net actuarial loss	27,699		2,053			29,752
Total	$	28,340	$	686		$	29,026

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
	2016		2015		2014		2016		2015		2014
Assumptions for benefit obligations:
Discount rate	4.30	%	4.53	%	4.21	%	4.03	%	4.29	%	3.99	%
Rate of compensation	3.50	%	3.50	%	4.00	%	n/a		n/a		n/a
Assumptions for net periodic benefit cost:
Discount rate	4.53	%	4.21	%	5.08	%	4.29	%	3.99	%	4.70	%
Expected return on plan assets	7.50	%	7.75	%	7.75	%	7.50	%	7.70	%	7.70	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50	%	4.00	%	4.00	%	n/a		n/a		n/a

Schedule Of PBO In Excess Of Fair Value Of Plan Assets

The following table summarizes information related to the Company's qualified pension plan which had a PBO in excess of the fair value of plan assets at December 31 (in millions):

	2016		2015
Pension plan with PBOs in excess of fair value of plan assets:
PBO	$	1,934.1	$	1,964.0
Fair value of plan assets	$	1,899.9	$	1,842.0

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets

The fair values of the Company’s postretirement healthcare plan assets as of December 31, 2015 were as follows (in thousands):

	Balance as of December 31, 2015		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	6,068	$	2,980	$	3,088
Equity holdings:
U.S. companies	74,083		74,083		—
Foreign companies	17,267		16,849		418
Pooled equity funds	17,410		17,410		—
Other	11		11		—
Total equity holdings	108,771		108,353		418
Fixed-income holdings:
U.S. Treasuries	10,531		10,531		—
Federal agencies	6,508		—		6,508
Corporate bonds	10,270		—		10,270
Pooled fixed income funds	8,305		—		8,305
Foreign bonds	890		—		890
Municipal bonds	531		—		531
Total fixed-income holdings	37,035		10,531		26,504
Total assets in the fair value hierarchy	151,874		$	121,864	$	30,010
Assets measured at net asset value as a practical expedient:
Real estate investment trust	4,891
Total postretirement healthcare plan assets	$	156,765

The fair values of the Company’s postretirement healthcare plan assets as of December 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands):

	Balance as of December 31, 2016		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	4,442	$	1,180	$	3,262
Equity holdings:
U.S. companies	84,643		84,643		—
Foreign companies	14,190		13,995		195
Pooled equity funds	19,132		19,132		—
Other	9		9		—
Total equity holdings	117,974		117,779		195
Fixed-income holdings:
U.S. Treasuries	12,262		12,262		—
Federal agencies	7,364		—		7,364
Corporate bonds	11,750		—		11,750
Pooled fixed income funds	9,690		—		9,690
Foreign bonds	633		—		633
Municipal bonds	459		—		459
Total fixed-income holdings	42,158		12,262		29,896
Total assets in the fair value hierarchy	164,574		$	131,221	$	33,353
Assets measured at net asset value as a practical expedient:
Real estate investment trust	5,518
Total postretirement healthcare plan assets	$	170,092

The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets as of December 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands):

	Balance as of December 31, 2016		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	84,548	$	1,284	$	83,264
Equity holdings:
U.S. companies	603,568		586,302		17,266
Foreign companies	50,256		50,256		—
Harley-Davidson common stock	74,301		74,301		—
Pooled equity funds	316,225		316,225		—
Other	105		105		—
Total equity holdings	1,044,455		1,027,189		17,266
Fixed-income holdings:
U.S. Treasuries	41,089		41,089		—
Federal agencies	36,210		—		36,210
Corporate bonds	418,522		—		418,522
Pooled fixed income funds	170,741		57,543		113,198
Foreign bonds	69,871		—		69,871
Municipal bonds	12,509		—		12,509
Total fixed-income holdings	748,942		98,632		650,310
Total assets in the fair value hierarchy	1,877,945		$	1,127,105	$	750,840
Assets measured at net asset value as a practical expedient:
Limited partnership interests	9,321
Real estate investment trust	12,623
Total pension plan assets	$	1,899,889

The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets as of December 31, 2015 were as follows (in thousands):

	Balance as of December 31, 2015		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	33,539	$	1,485	$	32,054
Equity holdings:
U.S. companies	574,826		571,949		2,877
Foreign companies	113,803		113,803		—
Harley-Davidson common stock	57,808		57,808		—
Pooled equity funds	301,824		301,824		—
Other	109		109		—
Total equity holdings	1,048,370		1,045,493		2,877
Fixed-income holdings:
U.S. Treasuries	42,827		42,827		—
Federal agencies	43,695		—		43,695
Corporate bonds	388,439		—		388,439
Pooled fixed income funds	184,142		49,271		134,871
Foreign bonds	64,533		—		64,533
Municipal bonds	13,090		—		13,090
Total fixed-income holdings	736,726		92,098		644,628
Total assets in the fair value hierarchy	1,818,635		$	1,139,076	$	679,559
Assets measured at net asset value as a practical expedient:
Limited partnership interests	10,530
Real estate investment trust	12,802
Total pension plan assets	$	1,841,967

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:

	2016		2015
Healthcare cost trend rate for next year	7.25	%	7.50	%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate rate)	5.00	%	5.00	%
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 2016	$	658	$	(624	)
Accumulated benefit obligation as of December 31, 2016	$	12,670	$	(11,443	)

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

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

	Pension Benefits		SERPA Benefits		Postretirement Healthcare Benefits
2017	$	79,907	$	2,104	$	30,130
2018	$	81,133	$	2,240	$	29,501
2019	$	82,979	$	2,693	$	28,529
2020	$	85,528	$	3,169	$	27,370
2021	$	88,174	$	3,513	$	26,094
2022-2026	$	499,403	$	25,830	$	124,713