1,100 new jobs thanks to £100m Norton boost
AHUGE investment in the iconic Norton Motorcyles is set to create up to 1,100 new jobs in the Midlands.
Norton, which has recently opened a new manufacturing facility at Solar Park in Highlands Road, Shirley, has received a £100 million investment from its parent company TVS Motor Company.
The money has already helped the firm return close to its Birmingham roots, moving to the new Solihull site last November.
The investment will also be used to move towards electrification with cutting edge technology to create the motorbikes of the future.
Between 250 to 300 jobs at Norton Motorcyles are expected to be created and between 500 to 800 indirect jobs in the supply chain in the next three years.
The Solihull global headquarters also house the firm’s new global design and R&D (research and development) hub.
Bought out of administration by TVS, which makes two and threewheelers, two years ago, Norton builds British motorbikes using ‘traditional hand-crafted techniques with modern-day machinery for
consistently high quality’.
The expansion aims to make Norton a ‘leading player in luxury and high-performance motorcycles’.
Mr Sudarshan Venu, joint managing director at TVS Motor Company, said: “TVS Motor Company is excited to announce an investment of about £100 million in Norton Motorcycle, the iconic British brand we had acquired in 2020.
“Some of these investments have already been made, leading to the creation of a world-class facility and
the imminent launch of a re-engineered V4 SV and 961 Commando.
“A world-class team led by Robert Hentschel is working to bring Norton back to its rightful place. This investment will be towards electrification, cutting edge technology, world-class vehicles, manufacturing, sustainability and the future of mobility.”
He continued: “This is expected to create 250 to 300 direct jobs over the next three years and another 500 to 800 indirect jobs across the supply chain. The investments, spread over the next few years, will result in an exciting range of products for the global market.
“A brand-new facility has already been set up at Solar Park, Solihull, UK, which houses Norton’s state-ofthe-art manufacturing capability and the company’s new global design and R&D hub.”
This new facility is supported by the West Midlands Growth Partnership, and the UK Government.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street tweeted his support and said: “Exciting times for Norton in Solihull thanks to a £100m investment from TVS - meaning 250 to 300 new jobs will be created over the next few years, with up to 800 across the supply chain.
“This is fantastic news for the West Midlands, so keep your eyes peeled for the opportunities.”
It has also received the backing of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He said: “Trade and investment between the UK and India is creating good jobs and sustaining livelihoods in both of our countries.
“I’m very pleased that TVS Motor Company has decided to join the legions of Indian companies investing in the UK, boosting our future mobility sector and driving economic growth.”