We recently broke the news that TVS-owned Norton Motorcycles would debut six brand-new products over the next three years. The more exciting aspect about it was that these motorcycles would go on sale in India as well. We can now report some even more exciting news: the fact that Norton bikes will also be manufactured in India.
In a recent conversation with Sudarshan Venu, MD of TVS Motor, we learned that the company will be leveraging its manufacturing and supply-chain might in India to bolster the UK-based Norton business. Norton’s first all-new product under TVS ownership is due to come out next year, and TVS plans to begin production in Hosur as well by the end of it.
Production will also continue at Norton’s new facility in Solihull, UK, but TVS will be using its facilities in Hosur as well. “I believe high-quality manufacturing is what TVS really brings. It is the strength of TVS. Therefore, we will definitely use that fully to leverage Norton. But at the same time, they (the bikes) will be uniquely Norton, which is why we’re having European design, European marketing, European engineering as well. And so we will bring this combination together to create products which are uniquely Norton.”
Norton will not be the only premium European brand to manufacture motorcycles outside its home country. Both Triumph and Ducati are prime examples; most of their product range is also manufactured in Thailand. Moreover, TVS already manufactures products for BMW out of its Hosur facilities, including the 310cc platform of bikes and the new CE 02 electric scooter. The BMW products are not only manufactured here but have also been co-engineered with TVS.
Currently, little is known about what segment these new Norton motorcycles will occupy, but the TVS Motor MD is clear that Norton will remain a premium brand. While we’ll have to wait to learn about what sort of bikes lie in store from Norton, there’s certainly good news in the fact that locally manufactured machines should be priced (relatively) affordably when compared with other premium imported bikes.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
