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Harleys Get New Arizona Testing Grounds

While the auto-industry is striving to steer around the global financial maelstrom, some lucky dogs are sucking the marrow out of freshly dug-out bones. Maserati is having a ball celebrating a yet-to-come sales record while Harley Davidson is currently worth more than Ford. Despite its great value, the air-is-an-air-freshner maker has been out of proving grounds for a while now, following GM's sale of the Mesa speed-way and testing area.

According to the Daily Kingman Miner, an Arizona local newspaper, Harley will be back on track as of 2009 following a new agreement with Chrysler over new desert proving grounds. Details of the transaction have not been revealed so far, although it's certain that the agreement will boost the local economy through a yet undisclosed number of job openings.

Patricia Sweeney, a spokeswoman for the company declared that Harley-Davidson will set new head quarters at the site and will use the five-mile oval track and 18 acres of vehicle dynamics area to test their new products. According to the same source, setting up camp will take a few months as the new agreement will greenlight Harley-Davidson operations as of July 2009.

Designed for the brilliantly targeted leather-strapped nomad-spirited bikers, Harley is one of the few motorcycle manufacturers that actually test their vehicles in extreme heat conditions so the Kingman, AZ choice of location is far from being a simple coincidence.

All product ruggedness and extensive-testing asides, Harley is also to somewhat aid Chrysler make a recovery as the car producer has reported drops in sales nearing 35%, joining the row of producers like GM, Ford and the surprisingly troubled Nissan, Honda and Toyota with the latter also confronting a consumer-related confidence crisis.

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