Stellican Makes Moves to Re-launch Indian
Officials at Indian Motorcycle Company say they plan to introduce a new Indian Chief in the second half of 2007. The company recently purchased a production facility in Kings Mountain, N.C., hired motorcycle industry veteran Geoffrey Burgess to head up its product development team, and is seeking to expand its team of engine and chassis engineers, technicians and CAD designers.
Stephen Julius is head of Stellican Limited, the London-based private equity firm that acquired the trademarks and related intellectual property of Indian Motorcycle Company in July 2004, following Stellican’s successful re-launch of Chris-Craft boats. Julius said the announcement of Indian’s new factory site marks the re-launch of the storied motorcycle brand.
“We will apply the same practical and long-term approach to Indian as we have employed successfully at Chris-Craft,” he said. “We are confident we will repeat our success with Indian by remaining true to the rich heritage of this incredible brand and doing things slowly and thoroughly.”
Indian’s new headquarters property, located 37 miles west of downtown Charlotte, includes 11 acres and a 40,000 sq.-ft. manufacturing facility that allows for a 125,000 sq.-ft. expansion.
Burgess, most recently the Chief Technology Officer at Global Motorsports Group (GMG), has also served as head of product development at S&S Cycle, Inc., and as Chief Engineer at the Victory Motorcycle division of Polaris Industries, Inc. He will assist in hiring a team of engine and chassis engineers, technicians and CAD designers.
