Director of Design
In 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 several motorcycles, including most recently the BMW R nineT. While his professional focus has largely resided in European motorcycles, Stenegard’s personal passion has been the design and customisation 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 (having studied Design in California) to join the then Indian Motorcycle in Gilroy, California (under a previous ownership group in the pre-Stephen Julius/Stellican days).
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 programme, 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 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.
