Revenue

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenue

Revenue

The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of a good or service to a customer. Revenue is measured based on the consideration that the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for the goods or services transferred. Taxes that are collected from a customer concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.

Disaggregated revenue by major source was as follows for the years ended December 31, (in thousands):

	2020		2019
Motorcycles and Related Products:
Motorcycles	$	2,350,407	$	3,538,269
Parts & Accessories	659,634		713,400
General Merchandise	186,068		237,566
Licensing	29,750		35,917
Other	38,195		47,526
	3,264,054		4,572,678
Financial Services:
Interest income	682,517		678,205
Other	107,806		110,906
	790,323		789,111
	$	4,054,377	$	5,361,789

Motorcycles and Related Products

Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories, and General Merchandise – Revenues from the sale of motorcycles, Parts & Accessories (P&A), and General Merchandise are recorded when control is transferred to the customer, generally at the time of shipment. The sale of products to independent dealers outside the U.S. and Canada is generally on open account with terms that approximate 30-120 days and the resulting receivables are included in Accounts receivable, net on the Consolidated balance sheets. The sale of products to independent dealers in the U.S. and Canada is financed through HDFS and the related receivables are included in Finance receivables, net on the Consolidated balance sheets.

The Company offers sales incentive programs to independent dealers and retail customers designed to promote the sale of motorcycles, P&A, and General Merchandise. The Company estimates its variable consideration sold under its sales incentive programs using the expected value method. The Company accounts for consideration payable to a customer as part of its sales incentives as a reduction of revenue, which is accrued at the later of the date the related sale is recorded or the date the incentive program is both approved and communicated.

The Company offers the right to return eligible P&A and General Merchandise. When the Company offers a right to return, it estimates returns based on an analysis of historical trends and records revenue on the initial sale only in the amount that it expects to be entitled. The remaining consideration is deferred in a refund liability account. The refund liability is remeasured for changes in the estimate at each reporting date with a corresponding adjustment to revenue.     

Variable consideration related to sales incentives and rights to return is adjusted at the earliest of when the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive changes or the consideration becomes fixed. Adjustments for variable consideration related to previously recognized sales were not material during 2020 and 2019.

Shipping and handling costs associated with freight after control of a product has transferred to a customer are accounted for as fulfillment costs. The Company accrues for the shipping and handling in the same period that the related revenue is recognized.

The Company offers standard, limited warranties on its motorcycles and P&A. These warranties provide assurance that the product will function as expected and are not separate performance obligations. The Company accounts for estimated warranty costs as a liability when control of the product transfers to the customer.

Licensing – The Company licenses the Harley-Davidson name and other trademarks owned by the Company and collects royalties from its licensees. The trademark licenses are considered symbolic intellectual property, which grant the licensees a right to access the Company’s intellectual property. The Company satisfies its performance obligation over the license period, as the Company fulfills its promise to grant the licensees rights to use and benefit from the intellectual property as well as maintain the intellectual property.

Payment is typically due within thirty days of the end of each quarter for the royalties earned in that quarter. Revenue, in the form of sales-based royalties, is recognized when the licensees’ subsequent sales occur. The Company applies the practical expedient in ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to recognize licensing revenues in the amount that the Company has the right to invoice because the royalties due each period correspond directly with the value of the Company’s performance to date. Revenue will be recognized over the remaining contract terms which range up to 2 years.

Other – Other revenue consists primarily of revenue from Harley Owners Group® (H.O.G.) membership sales, motorcycle rental commissions, museum admissions and events, and other miscellaneous products and services.

Financial Services

Interest Income – Interest income on finance receivables is recorded as earned and is based on the average outstanding daily balance for wholesale and retail receivables. Accrued and uncollected interest is classified with Finance receivables, net. Certain loan origination costs related to finance receivables, including payments made to dealers for certain retail loans, are deferred and recorded within Finance receivables, net and amortized over the life of the contract.

Other Income – Other income consists primarily of insurance and licensing revenues. HDFS works with certain unaffiliated insurance companies to offer motorcycle insurance and protection products through most Harley-Davidson independent dealers in the U.S. and Canada. HDFS also works with third-party financial institutions that issue credit cards or offer other financial products bearing the Harley-Davidson brand in the U.S. and internationally. For many of these contracts, the Company grants temporary rights to use the licensed trademarks owned by the Company and collects royalties from its customers in connection with sales of their products. The trademark licenses are considered symbolic intellectual property, which grant the customer a right to access the intellectual property. The Company satisfies its performance obligation over the license period, as it fulfills its promise to grant the customer rights to use and benefit from the intellectual property as well as maintain the intellectual property. Royalty and profit sharing amounts are received either quarterly or per annum, based upon the contract. Revenue, in the form of sales-based royalties, is recognized when the customers’ subsequent sales occur. Revenue will be recognized over the remaining contract terms which range up to 5 years. The Company is the primary obligor for certain other insurance related contracts and, as a result, revenue is recognized over the life of the contract as the Company fulfills its performance obligation.

Contract Liabilities

The Company maintains certain deferred revenue balances related to payments received at contract inception in advance of the Company’s performance under the contract and generally relates to the sale of H.O.G. memberships and extended service plan contracts. Deferred revenue is recognized as revenue as the Company performs under the contract. Deferred revenue, included in Accrued liabilities and Other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated balance sheets, was as follows as of December 31, (in thousands):

	2020		2019
Balance, beginning of period	$	29,745	$	29,055
Balance, end of period	36,614		29,745

Previously deferred revenue recognized as revenue in 2020 and 2019 was $19.7 million and $26.3 million, respectively. The Company expects to recognize approximately $15.4 million of the remaining unearned revenue in 2021 and $21.2 million thereafter.