Wisconsin has the iconic Harley-Davidson. Iowa will have the legendary Indian.
Polaris Industries plans to bring production of the Indian motorcycle to its Spirit Lake factory, where it already makes Victory cruiser and touring bikes.
Polaris bought Indian Motorcycle, America's first motorcycle company, earlier this week for an undisclosed amount. The Minneapolis company says it's too early to determine how many jobs will be added at its northwest Iowa plant, where it introduced the Victory motorcycle 13 years ago.
"This is a great move," said Justin Vandevort, general manager of an Indian dealership outside Omaha. "Polaris will add to the Indian lineup and take it to the next level."
Rick Canode, owner of RJ Performance, a Victory dealer in Ottumwa, said the Indian brand carries a lot of cachet, even though it's had a turbulent history. "Polaris will restore Indian's prominence," said Canode, who expects Polaris will improve the Indian "from start to finish."
Declining sales prompted production of the Indian, which opened in 1901, to end in 1953. Efforts to revive the brand floundered in the 1990s, with production again halting in 2003. An investment group resurrected the brand, starting production of the Indian Chief in Kings Mountain, N.C., in 2008.
Marlys Knutson, spokeswoman for Polaris, said it's too early to say when Indian production will begin in Iowa. The company will move machinery and equipment from North Carolina, where 25 employees worked, to Iowa over the next two to three months.
The Spirit Lake plant employs about 600 workers, said Kathy Evert, who leads the area's economic development efforts. "We're very excited about Indian being made in Iowa. We think it will be a great fit."
Scott Wine, Polaris' CEO, said in a conference call that the Indian will enable Polaris to capture a bigger piece of the $11 billion heavyweight cruiser market.
Vandevort of Indian Motorcycle Omaha said the Indian and Victory motorcycles appeal to different buyers, with different price points. Fewer than 700 Indian bikes are produced annually, and their price starts at $25,000. The Victory starts around $12,500.
Vandevort believes Polaris will keep each bike's distinctive styling separate.
Wine said the company "will accelerate growth of both brands" over time.
Polaris said in a statement it would operate Indian as an independent business unit, combining Polaris' "engineering acumen and innovative technology" with Indian's "premium brand, iconic design and rich American history."
Vandevort said Indian and Victory dealers will have the choice of adding the motorcycles to their lineups. Iowa has no Indian dealer now, and Vandevort expects dealers will add them in the months ahead.
"It will be neat to have Indians built in our backyard," he said.
Polaris, with nearly $2 billion in sales last year, also makes off-road vehicles and snowmobiles. The company says its Victory motorcycles were the first "all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years."
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