Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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 and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. 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. The aggregate transaction gain resulting from foreign currency remeasurements was $22.0 million, $3.8 million, and $18.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

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.

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 $2.4 million and $3.7 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, 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 Harley-Davidson Financial Services by the purchasing 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 $318.5 million and $221.9 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

Repossessed Inventory – Repossessed inventory representing recovered collateral on impaired finance receivables is recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value through a fair value remeasurement. In the period during which the collateral is repossessed, the related finance receivable is adjusted to the fair value of the collateral through a change to the allowance for credit losses and reclassified to repossessed inventory, included in Other current assets on the Consolidated balance sheets.

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. During 2021 and 2020, the Company tested its goodwill balances for impairment and no adjustments were recorded to goodwill as a result of those reviews.

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.

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. Research and development expenses were $175.1 million, $202.4 million and $216.5 million for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

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. During 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Company incurred $107.6 million, $134.6 million and $171.4 million in advertising costs, respectively.

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 December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): 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 Company adopted ASU 2019-12 on January 1, 2021 on a prospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.