Motorcycle manufacturer to relocate

The Viper Motorcycle Co. will begin manufacturing motorcycles in Auburn, Ala., next year, the company announced.

The company will move its operation from Minnesota to Auburn as soon as possible with full production in Alabama scheduled for 2011. Company officials expect the creation of 100 new jobs in Auburn over the next two years.

Viper, a subsidiary of Viper Powersports, produces cruiser motorcycles. The motorcycles are produced with more than 80 percent of proprietary parts designed and manufactured by Viper. “The Auburn facility and community support places us in a position to achieve our annual goal of 2,000 motorcycles and 2,000 aftermarket engines within 5 years,” John Silseth, CEO of Viper Powersports, said in a press release.

Andrew Broadley, technical director of Viper Motorcycle Co., sees the proximity to Auburn University as an opportunity to integrate a wealth of knowledge and expertise from students and faculty.

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