In what year was Harley-Davidson founded?

Harley-Davidson was founded in 1903 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

William S. Harley and brothers Arthur, Walter, and William Davidson established the company after developing motorcycles in a small shed behind the Davidson family home. Harley had designed an early engine by 1901, and the first completed Harley-Davidson motorcycle followed in 1903.

The company is often described as one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers in the world, but that wording needs context: several earlier motorcycle makers existed, and some companies founded around the same period later disappeared. Harley-Davidson’s significance comes from its unusual longevity and its strong association with large American V-twin motorcycles.

The company’s first factory was built in Milwaukee in 1906, three years after the founding. Harley-Davidson was incorporated in 1907, so founding, factory construction, and incorporation are separate milestones.