India’s TVS Motor Co, a reputed manufacturer of two-wheelers and three-wheelers globally, recently announced an investment of £100 million in Norton Motorcycles, which it acquired in April 2020.

Some of this investment has already been made, including the opening of Norton’s new manufacturing facility in Solihull, West Midlands, building ‘British bikes in England using traditional hand-crafted techniques with modern machinery for consistently high quality’. The investment will also see the imminent launch of a re-engineered V4SV and 961 Commando.

The company said: “A world-class team, led by Robert Hentschel as CEO of Norton Motorcycles, 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.

“This is expected to create 250-300 direct jobs over the next three years and another 500-800 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 of the art’ manufacturing capability and the company’s new global design and R&D hub.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Trade and investment between the UK and India is creating good jobs and sustaining livelihoods in both of our countries. I am 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.”

Dr Hentschel said: Norton Motorcycles’ new global headquarters houses ‘state of the art’ manufacturing capability and the company’s new global design and R&D hub. It forms a key part of Norton’s strategic growth plan on its journey to becoming a leading player in luxury and high-performance motorcycles. The manufacturing facility has been engineered to be highly sustainable and minimise waste.”