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HomeMedia‘Rebirth’ of Norton Motorcycles enters its next phase

‘Rebirth’ of Norton Motorcycles enters its next phase

Iconic British company has been owned by TVS of India for a year

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With all the attention sucked away by the coronavirus pandemic, you might have missed the business transaction in 2020 that promises to revitalize Norton Motorcycles, an iconic British brand.

Norton dates to 1898 when it started producing parts. In 1902, the company began producing motorcycles and in 1908 started equipping those bikes with Norton-produced engines. The company’s machines did very well in racing and in supplying the British military in both world wars. 

Despite winning the Isle of Man TT races from 1947-1954, the company went into decline, was acquired in 1953 by AMC — not the American automotive company but the UK’s Associated Motor Cycles. There were subsequent ownership and partnership arrangements and in 2020, Norton became part of TVS, the third-largest motorcycle producer in India.

Norton engine being built

Norton remains based in England, at Solihull, where it produces the V4SS and, coming soon, the Atlas and V4RR.

The latest announcement from the company is the hiring of Robert Hentschel as chief executive (he formerly was a director of Lotus Engineering and most recently worked at Valmet Automotive Holding as managing director) and of Vittorio Urciloli as chief technical officer (he formerly was head of powertrain at Lotus and previously was a project manager at Ferrari and Aprilia racing).

Norton V4SS

Hentschel replaces John Russell, Harley-Davidson’s former vice president and managing director for Europe, who was brought in as interim head to stabilize Norton after TVS’s acquisition.

“TVS has created a plan for Norton to transform into the future,” Sudarshan Venu, joint managing director of TVW Motors, is quoted in the latest news release. “The brand will retain its core values which will be interpreted in a modern way for the customers of today and tomorrow.”

Venu also praised Russell’s role during the transition period in getting the company ready for “the next stage of its rebirth.”

“Norton is once again poised to build the finest motorcycles in the world,” Hentschel added.

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Larry Edsall
Larry Edsall
A former daily newspaper sports editor, Larry Edsall spent a dozen years as an editor at AutoWeek magazine before making the transition to writing for the web and becoming the author of more than 15 automotive books. In addition to being founding editor at ClassicCars.com, Larry has written for The New York Times and The Detroit News and was an adjunct honors professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Owned a 1975 electric start Commando. What a fine machine. At the time , nothing could catch me ! I was heartbroken when manufacturing stopped . Beautiful lines even with the few faults. Want one !!!

  2. After 34 years I still own my 1973 850 Commando. And, with all it’s flaws, it’s still my favourite motorcycle.

  3. Would love to see them start making those old 750 and 850 Commandos again , and bring back the FastBack like they did with the Royal Enfield’s , not to many can afford those $20,000 Norton’s but a $8,000 Norton is a reality for so many of us , I owned a 68 Fastback and a 73 850 Roadster , ready to buy another

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