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Harley To Close Test Facility

Motorcycle maker shutting down its test facility in Alabama, eliminating about 100 jobs there, as it consolidates its test operations.

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- Harley-Davidson Inc. says it is shutting down its test facility at the Talladega Airport, eliminating about 100 jobs there.

The motorcycle company says it's consolidating its test operations from Talladega, Naples, Fla., and Mesa, Ariz. to the Arizona Proving Grounds in Yucca, Ariz.

Pat Sweeney, a spokesman for Harley-Davidson, could not provide a date when the facility would close, but did say it would be sometime next year.

Sweeney says the Talladega facility has just under 70 Harley-Davidson employees, Sweeney said, as well as just under 40 contract workers.

The facility performs several kinds of vehicle testing, including emissions, brake, sound, durability and automated vehicle tests. High-speed tests are often performed at the Talladega SuperSpeedway.

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