An iconic British manufacturing brand is set to return to roads, just five years after it went into administration.
Norton Motorcycles, which was based in Solihull, collapsed in March 2020, before being purchased the month after by Indian firm TVS Motor.
It initially went into administration under former owner Staurt Garner, who later pleaded guilty to pension fraud.
However, TVS Motor has now announced that it is looking to relaunch the brand in the UK and the United States.
TVS has invested around £200million into Norton Motorcycles and even built a new facility in the West Midlands.
Sudarshan Venu, chairman and managing director of TVS Motor, said: “What we are trying to do is benchmark the glory days of Norton, which was many years ago, and take it ahead in a modern way.
“The old Norton, they were just trying to make it work in a garage. We are really re-creating [it] as a global brand in the rightful way,” he told the Financial Times.
Norton’s website even states that the brand’s “resurgence” will take place in one month and six days.
Norton Motorcycles was founded in 1898
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Reports state that the brand plans to launch four new Norton motorcycles and superbikes in November.
By 2028, the new ownership company expects Norton Motorcycles to sell around 20,000 motorbikes a year, which would generate around £150million in revenue.
The Financial Times reported that TVS would invest as much as £14million between October and March next year.
TVS Motor is one of the largest motorcycle companies in India and produces around three million units every year.
Norton Motorcycles plans to release four new motorbikes
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NORTON
Its flagship model, the TVS Apache, has sold around six million models, with TCS selling six different variants of the Apache.
Norton Motorcycles was founded by James Lansdowne Norton, known as Pa, in 1898, originally selling fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade.
The very first Norton Motorcycle – the Energette – was produced in 1902 with a single-cylinder 143cc Clement engine.
The brand’s history is steeped in success, having won the 1907 Isle of Man TT race, with Rem Fowler winning in the twin-cylinder class.
Norton Motorcycles went into administration in 2020
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NORTON
Norton opened its first Atelier shop in London earlier this week, making it the first Norton site outside of its headquarters in Solihull.
The location, in Old Street, showcased Norton’s off-bike collection, which was created by Savile Row tailor Nick Tentis.
Former Manchester United chief executive and current Norton executive director, Richard Arnold, said he wanted Norton to become a “global brand”.
Similarly, Mr Venu added: “We have to leverage the global supply chain capability and also many of the free trade agreements that are here. Wherever we manufacture it, the quality will be the same.”
