Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Harley-Davidson, Inc. and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned (the Company), including the accounts of the group of companies referred to as Harley-Davidson Motor Company (HDMC) and Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS). In addition, certain variable interest entities (VIEs) related to secured financing are consolidated as the Company is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany accounts and material intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

The Company operates in two reportable segments: Motorcycles and Related Products (Motorcycles) and Financial Services.

Substantially all of the Company’s international subsidiaries use their respective local currency as their functional currency. Assets and liabilities of international subsidiaries have been translated at period-end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses have been translated using average exchange rates for the period. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a currency that is different from an entity's functional currency are remeasured from the transactional currency to the entity's functional currency on a monthly basis.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) requires the Company's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.During the first quarter of 2020, the outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) spread throughout the world, and it was recognized as a pandemic in March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted the level of economic activity in the U.S. and around the world and the full extent of its impact is not yet known. The Company's financial results for the period ending December 31, 2020 reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the most significant of which relates to the allowance for credit losses as discussed in Note 7.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable, net

The Company’s motorcycles and related products are sold to independent dealers outside the U.S. and Canada generally on open account and the resulting receivables are included in Accounts receivable, net on the Consolidated balance sheets. The allowance for doubtful accounts deducted from total accounts receivable was $3.7 million and $4.9 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company’s evaluation of the allowance for doubtful accounts includes a review to identify non-performing accounts which are evaluated individually. The remaining accounts receivable balances are evaluated in the aggregate based on an aging analysis. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on factors including past loss experience, the value of collateral, and if applicable, reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. Accounts receivable are written down once management determines that the specific customer does not have the ability to repay the balance in full. The Company’s sales of motorcycles and related products in the U.S. and Canada are financed through HDFS by the purchasing independent dealers and the related receivables are included in Finance receivables, net on the Consolidated balance sheets.

Inventories, net

Substantially all inventories located in the U.S. are valued using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. Other inventories totaling $221.9 million and $326.5 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

Property, Plant and Equipment, net

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is determined using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives of each class of property, plant and equipment generally consist of 30 years for buildings, 7 years for building and land improvements, 3 to 10 years for machinery and equipment, and 3 to 7 years for software. Accelerated methods of depreciation are used for income tax purposes.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of the net assets purchased. Goodwill is tested for impairment, based on financial data related to the reporting unit to which it has been assigned, at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired and an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, limited to the total goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.

Long-lived Assets

The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used when events and circumstances warrant such review. If the carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset for assets to be held and used. The Company also reviews the useful life of its long-lived assets when events and circumstances indicate that the actual useful life may be shorter than originally estimated. In the event that the actual useful life is deemed to be shorter than the original useful life, depreciation is adjusted prospectively so that the remaining book value is depreciated over the revised useful life. Refer to Note 3 for additional details surrounding the Company's restructuring activities impacting long-lived assets.Asset groups classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell, and a loss is recognized for any initial adjustment required to reduce the carrying amount to the fair value less cost to sell in the period the held for sale criteria are met. The fair value less cost to sell must be assessed each reporting period that the asset group remains classified as held for sale. Gains or losses not previously recognized resulting from the sale of an asset group will be recognized on the date of sale.

Research and Development Expenses

Expenditures for research activities relating to product development and improvements are charged against income as incurred and included within Selling, administrative and engineering expense on the Consolidated statements of operations.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses the production cost of advertising the first time the advertising takes place within Selling, administrative and engineering expense. Advertising costs relate to the Company’s efforts to promote its products and brands through the use of media and other means.

Shipping and Handling Costs

The Company classifies shipping and handling costs as a component of Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold.

New Accounting Standards

Accounting Standards Recently Adopted

In July 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-13 Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13). ASU 2016-13 changes how a company recognizes expected credit losses on financial instruments carried at amortized cost basis, by requiring recognition of the full lifetime expected credit losses upon initial recognition of the financial instrument. ASU 2016-13 replaced the incurred loss methodology. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020 using a modified retrospective approach for financial instruments measured at amortized cost.

On January 1, 2020, the Company remeasured the allowance for credit losses on financial instruments under the new accounting standard. The difference was recorded as a cumulative effect adjustment to Retained earnings, net of income taxes. The initial adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not impact the Company’s Consolidated statements of operations. The effect of adopting ASU 2016-13 on the Company’s Consolidated balance sheets was as follows (in thousands):

	December 31, 2019		Effect of Adoption		January 1, 2020
ASSETS
Finance receivables(a)	$	7,572,947	$	—	$	7,572,947
Allowance for credit losses on finance receivables(a)	$	(198,581)	$	(100,604)	$	(299,185)
Deferred income taxes	$	101,204	$	22,484	$	123,688
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accrued liabilities	$	582,288	$	109	$	582,397
Retained earnings	$	2,193,997	$	(78,229)	$	2,115,768

(a)Reported as Finance receivables, net on the Consolidated balance sheets, allocated between current and non-current

Financial Statement Comparability to Prior Periods – Beginning in 2020, under ASU 2016-13, the Company recognizes full lifetime expected credit losses upon initial recognition of the associated financial instrument carried at amortized cost basis. Under ASU 2016-13, changes in the allowance for credit losses and the impact on the provision for credit losses will be affected by the size and composition of the Company's finance receivables portfolios, economic conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other appropriate factors at each reporting period. Prior periods have not been restated and will continue to be reported in accordance with the previously applicable U.S. GAAP, which generally required that a credit loss be incurred before it was recognized. As such, prior periods will not be comparable to the current period. Additional information on the Company’s finance receivables is discussed further in Note 7.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04 Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (ASU 2017-04). ASU 2017-04 simplified the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill. Rather, the goodwill impairment is calculated by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value, and an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, limited to the total goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. All reporting units apply the same impairment test under the new standard. The Company adopted ASU 2017-04 on January 1, 2020 on a prospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 did not have an effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (ASU 2018-13). ASU 2018-13 amended ASC 820 to eliminate, modify, and add certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The amendments were required to be applied retrospectively, with the exception of a few disclosure additions, which were to be applied on a prospective basis. The Company adopted ASC 2018-13 on January 1, 2020. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 did not have a material impact on the Company's disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) (ASU 2018-15). The new guidance requires a customer in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract to follow the existing internal-use software guidance to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as assets or expense as incurred. The Company adopted ASU 2018-15 on January 1, 2020 on a prospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2018-15 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (ASU 2019-12). The new guidance eliminates certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The new guidance also simplifies aspects of the accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2019-12 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.