The British Embassy in Tokyo kindly hosted the Norton Motorcycles launch party, taking Norton back into the Japanese market after some 30 years.. The first Commando 961 bikes were there and received great attention from the discerning Japanese dealer network that Norton Japan has worked hard to put in place over the last 18 months. The bikes received great accolades from the dealers who also spent time with Stuart Garner, CEO of Norton Motorcycles and Joe Adams head of International Sales. Stuart and Joe flew over for the launch at the British Embassy particularly to meet the dealers, thanking them as well as the staff of Norton Japan for their hard work and ongoing support for Norton.

Stuart and Joe went on to meet Richard Buttery [pictured below] the First Secretary, Head of Trade at UK Trade and Investment and Matthew Matsumoto-Prouten, MBE Second Secretary. They discussed the return of Norton and issues in the Japanese market. Norton pass on their thanks to all at the British Embassy for their help and kind hospitality.

Here we go, with TT 2013 fast approaching we thought you might like to see a first pic of the new bikes.. Here’s a shot showing some of the technology the new factory race bikes are carrying this year.

British Airways announces today the sale of the former headquarters of Bmi to Norton Motorcycles.

 Donington Hall

Norton Motorcycles has purchased the Donington Hall estate from British Airways including the Hall and its surrounding 25 acre grounds and the modern 45,000 sq ft Hastings House facility.

British Airways acquired Donington Hall and its’ surrounding 25 acre grounds as part of its deal to takeover Bmi in April 2012.

Stuart Garner, CEO of Norton Motorcycles, said “Donington Hall conjures up a uniquely British way to show style, strength and quality which are all great attributes of the Norton brand.  However, beyond the drama and romance of Donington Hall is a thoroughly modern 45,000 sq ft building (Hastings House) which will become the new Norton Motorcycles production facility and design offices. It became clear some time ago that we had outgrown our current location, to be able to move less than a mile down the road to an outstanding facility like Donington Hall is ideal. It will allow Norton to grow our manufacturing business with focus on ‘built in Britain by British hands’, export growth and job creation”.

Vance Williamson, Head of Property at British Airways, said “We are delighted to have reached agreement with Norton Motorcycles and we hope that they are able to grow their business from their new home. The integration of Bmi into British Airways has gone exceptionally well from an operational and customer service point of view and is already delivering extra benefits to our business. The deal to acquire Bmi included a total of 155 properties, ranging from the impressive Grade II listed Donington Hall to small airport offices around Europe. I am really pleased that the property team has also been able to sell, hand back or merge these properties in a very efficient and cost effective manner”.

Garner added, “We have worked with our local authorities and politicians to put the project together, special thanks go to N W Leicestershire Council and Andrew Brigden MP. We are also working with LLEP [Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership] to put together our job creation and export growth plans, by working with LLEP we are able to put together a Regional Growth Fund application to enable further funding to help accelerate our growth plans and bring more job creation to the area as soon as possible”.  We must also thank ASC Commercial Finance Nottingham for helping Norton arrange the best commercial funding for the purchase.

Andrew Brigden MP, said, “I am delighted to see that Donington Hall is now going to be put back into use. At the time it was vacated, I said I hoped it would be brought back into use as a business to provide local jobs. The fact a local manufacturing company like Norton are taking on the building and creating jobs is excellent news, and I am pleased that I was able to play a part in making this happen.”

Hastings House

Contacts

British Airways Press Office               Norton Motorcycles

media.relations@ba.com                    kay.johnson@nortonmotorcycles.com

0208 738 5100

New dual seat Commando’s are heading out to Paris, France for the first time in over 30 years.  Please contact Norton France  for further details, contact info is on our website.

After recent homologation approvals the Commando dual seat option is now available throughout Europe, USA, Canada and Japan.