Damon Inc., the folks behind the HyperSport and HyperFighter all-electric motorcycles that have been on the way for many years now, have been having a rough one as of late. There have been layoffs, strategy changes, multiple executives leaving for a couple different reasons, a handful of prominent lawsuits, and an ever-changing manufacturing question of where the motorcycles were gonna be built. But if you hear current CEO and co-founder Dom Kwong talk about the brand's future, you'd maybe believe that the company was now on firmer ground.
And you will hear him make that case in an upcoming interview, as I sat down with Kwong and talked about the company's past, present, and future, with him copping to the warts and all. But right now, one thing we have to cover ahead of that talk is that the folks tasked with actually building the brand's new prototype—it went back to the drawing board for its now upcoming HyperSport Race motorcycle—Engines Engineering.
See, the famed Italian engineering house was just bought by TVS, the same Indian company that just bought Norton, and helped develop BMW's G310 series motorcycles. So far, nothing has been stated that they'll be changing any of the brand's directives or projects. But what's interesting is that Damon recently announced that Engines Engineering just completed its clay-modeling process, and is working toward a working prototype.
According to Kwong in Damon's latest press release, "The transition from digital simulation to a physical prototype of HSR represents a critical step for Damon. It's the moment where our vision truly begins to take shape. The successful validation of our engineering concepts and the finalization of the clay model demonstrate that we are on track to deliver a vehicle that is not only technologically advanced but also attuned to the user's experience. We believe we are not just building a machine; we are crafting the future of mobility."
The next step, according to the release, is for Engines Engineering to start building an actual working prototype with the parts that the Damon team has helped redesign since the original concepts and prototypes of the HyperSport and HyperFighter, and sourced from Damon's partners. The company states that it expects to debut a working "Engineering Test Vehicle," i.e. a working prototype, this November. For those playing at home, that coincides with EICMA's November dates.
But the TVS of it all poses questions, though it seems that the brand wants to expand Engines Engineering's capabilities.
According to The Economic Times, TVS Motor Company has agreed to buy Engines Engineering S.p.A. for just over 5 million euros. The deal gives TVS 100% control over the company, and the investment is designed to create a global center of excellence in Bolonga to continue the Italian marque's innovation. "By combining the creativity and racing expertise of Engines Engineering with our engineering and design strengths, we are expanding our ability to deliver premium, connected, and electric vehicles that set new global benchmarks," said TVS Motor Company Chairman, Sudarshan Venu.
Yet, what could possibly be a concerning statement is what Venu stated after the above, saying, "This Centre of Excellence further augments Norton's capabilities, enabling it to advance its craft of exceptional high-performance motorcycles that not only honour its iconic legacy but also elevate its future ambitions." He specifies that the acquisition is designed to help Norton, not any other brands.
I've reached out to TVS asking about the acquisition, as well as the future of Engines Engineering as it relates to working with other entities outside of TVS, but have yet to hear back at the time of publication. I'll update this story if and when I hear back.
