Indian Motorcycles was acquired this week by Polaris Industries. Indian has been dead many times and resurrect many times like a hero character from a bad TV show. I am surprised it is still alive in this economy downfall......you know?, one time, a guy who owned the rights of the name and all he did was sell t-shirts and stuff with logo on it. Not motorcycles... Pretty sad huh? Well, Polaris is diversified company unlike Harley Davidson, so they might actually do it right and keep Indian products, I mean motorcycles on market.
Press release follows:
Polaris Industries Inc. today announced the acquisition of Indian Motorcycle. The business was acquired from Indian Motorcycle Limited (“IML”), a company advised by Stellican Limited and Novator Partners LLP, U.K. Private Equity firms. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“We are excited to be part of the revitalization of a quintessentially American brand,” said Scott Wine, CEO of Polaris Industries Inc. “Indian built America’s first motorcycle. With our technology and vision, we are confident we will deliver the classic Indian motorcycle, enhanced by the quality and performance for which Polaris and Victory are known.”
Polaris says that Indian will operate as an autonomous business unit, building upon the potent combination of Polaris’ engineering acumen and innovative technology.
Yeah, I would be pissed if they just add bigger front fenders and leather fringes on Victory motorbikes and call them Indian motorcycles. -That is what previous operators of Indian motorcycles did and failed big.
“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Polaris. Polaris will utilize its well-known strengths in engineering, manufacturing, and distribution to complete the mission we undertook upon re-launching the brand in 2006: harness the enormous potential of the Indian brand,” said Stephen Julius, chairman of Indian and managing director of Stellican. “Polaris is the most logical owner of Indian Motorcycle. Indian’s heritage brand will allow Polaris to aggressively compete across an expanded spectrum of the motorcycle market.”
Novator Partners LLP is a London based alternative investment firm founded and led by the investor Mr. Thor Bjorgolfsson. An avid motorcycle enthusiast, Mr. Bjorgolfsson said “After a troubled past, our goal was to bring the legendary Indian bikes back on the roads. The initial phase of that project is done and now our great partners at Polaris will carry on the work to realize the full potential of this classic American brand.”
I hope that they don't make Indian bikes as another cruiser brand. I just want to see good American non-cruiser road bike.
by the way, Polaris is planning to purchase an assembly factory in the India, so if they make the Indian bikes there that will be real Indian motorcycles build by Indians....
Source: Kneeslider
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