Motorcycle maker rides off into the Leicestershire sunset

HISTORIC FIRM LEAVES CASTLE DONINGTON AFTER OVER 10 YEARS

NORTON Motorcycles has moved out of its Leicestershire home and is opening a new factory 40 miles away in the West Midlands.

The historic bike builder had been based in Castle Donington for more than a decade before going into administration last year.

It was subsequently bought by India’s TVS Motor Company, which is moving it to a new base in Solar Park, Solihull.

Following a multi-million pound investment, all its design, engineering, manufacturing and testing will take place at the new site.

Norton has said the new factory is close to completion and will open in the spring.

The business was previously working out of the former British Midland International airline offices in the grounds of Donington Hall, near East Midlands Airport.

TVS, which bought Norton out of administration last year, is the sixth biggest bike manufacturer in the world and part of the £6.2 billionplus TVS Group.

Sudarshan Venu, joint managing director of TVS Motors, said: “The opening of the new headquarters represents a significant step forward for Norton Motorcycles (and) will create the foundations for a sustainable long-term future of Norton. The new bikes will meet the world class standards our customers expect.

“2020 has been a tough year for the world but we are excited to be moving into our new home and we are delighted this has been created by the Norton and TVS teams in just nine months.

“This new facility, underpinned by strong quality processes, will produce bikes truly worthy of the illustrious Norton brand and take it into the future.

“We are setting out to create a future for the company, our employees, our customers and our partners that lives up to the highest expectations and enable Norton to once again become the real force its history deserves.”

Norton was founded in Birmingham in 1898 and was bought in 2008 by businessman Stuart Garner, who moved the brand to Leicestershire, building up a strong following for the hand-built bikes.

However, a year ago it became apparent the business was in financial difficulties and administrators from BDO were called in. At the time there were around 100 staff.

Customers who had paid deposits before the company went into administration can now look forward to getting their orders, with the business stating: “Norton will resume production of the Commando Classic model at the Solihull site, building a limited quality to honour customers that had ordered and paid for a deposit on these bikes.”