Norton’ s big pledge
Deposit holders to get first bikes
Norton’s new Midlands factory is taking shape with bikes being built and a grand opening planned for the near future. Despite Covid restrictions affecting development of the new factory in Solihull, the company – bought by TVS for £16 million a year ago – are gaining momentum with 110 workers now on board. The factory has 7000m2 of covered space, with scope to expand and there’s a large manufacturing area with the capacity to build up to 8000 bikes a year. There are also design studios, an engineering office and a service facility.
Norton are currently building the last Commando run and CEO John Russell says that trial builds have started on the V4s. There are about 70 previous orders to fulfil of the top-of-therange V4 and then a further 80 will be built to bring the total number of V4s to 200, which was the old firm’s plan. These will be homologated via Single Vehicle Approval. Norton say any future V4s will then go through the full homologation (Euro5) process. The company are also still developing the Atlas 650 models and see them as a key target. A licensed out version of its twin cylinder engine has already been seen in the Zongshen Cyclone RX6. The management team at
Norton are still considering race plans. Although they have made no secret of their desire to compete in road races such as the TT and they are working out whether to progress the supercharged 650cc engine concept announced by the old Donington-based company.
Russell said: “Plans are proceeding at a pace and we have made remarkable progress on factory construction in light of the restrictions that we have complied with to make sure everyone is kept safe during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “Construction of bikes at our new facility began earlier this year to honour the pre-existing orders for customers who placed deposits on bikes with old Norton but never received them. We see fulfilling those orders as one of the first key steps in our journey to rebuild customer trust.
“Then the plan is to officially open the facility in the coming months, and we are on a very positive trajectory to continue building bikes at the most advanced manufacturing facility that Norton has ever had.”
‘We have made remarkable progress’ NORTON CEO JOHN RUSSELL