™
R
NOW IN OU
26 EA t R h
Y
T H E L E A D I N G B U S I N E S S M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L C U S T O M M O T O R C Y C L E A N D PA RT S I N D U S T RY
Indian names Stenegard
as Director of Design
n a major coup, Indian
Motorcycle Company has
hired Ola Stenegard away
from BMW as the company’s
new Director of Product Design.
Stenegard brings Indian nearly two
decades of product design experience,
a lifelong passion for American V-
twins and a proven record of success
in designing motorcycles that
resonate with a global audience.
“Stenegard’s unique combination of
domestic and global expertise aligns
perfectly with Indian's long-term
strategy of driving global growth.
“Ola has been incredibly successful in
helping brands expand into new
product categories and appeal to a
wider variety of riders, which is exactly
what Indian will be focused on in the
coming years,” said Steve Menneto,
President, Indian Motorcycle
Company.
Stenegard previously led product
design for BMW Motorrad. There he
played a critical role in designing
motorcycles, including most recently
the BMW R nineT. While his
professional focus has largely resided
I
in European motorcycles, Stenegard’s
personal passion has been the design
and customization of American V-
twins.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be
joining Indian Motorcycle at a time
when the brand has successfully
returned itself to prominence and is
powered by an increasing level of
momentum. There is no brand any
more historic to American
motorcycling than Indian.”
Stenegard took first prize at his first
motorcycle show in Stockholm at age
15 with a moped he’d modified into
an Arlen Ness inspired chopper. He
initially worked for SAAB, doing
freelance work for Ohlins Suspension,
Unique Custom Cycle and MCM
Magazine. In 2001, Stenegard
returned to the United States to join
Indian Motorcycle (under a previous
ownership group) in Gilroy, Calif.
In 2003, he joined BMW Motorrad
where he would become one of the
brand’s most influential designers
over the next 15 years, ascending to
Head of Vehicle Design and working
on virtually every significant new
model program, ultimately helping
the company successfully increase its
relevance with a wider range of riders.
Over the years, his custom builds have
been featured in hundreds of
magazines across the world and have
earned numerous awards at some of
the world’s most renowned
motorcycle shows, including the AMD
European Championship of Custom
Bike Building and Mooneyes,
Yokohama.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the 2018 Drag Specialties 'FatBook' catalog cover bike was built in
collaboration with Ray Price Harley-Davidson, and "spreads the love" among its vendors, including Russ
Wernimont, Legend Suspensions, Memphis Shades, Paul Yaffe's Bagger Nation, Battistinis, S&S, Covingtons,
Arlen Ness, BDL, Magnum Shielding, Todd's Cycle, Joker Machine, J.W. Speaker and PM among others
APR 2018
ISSUE #225
SHOW REVIEW