The Alabama-based Confederate Motors produces some outrageously designed motorcycles – their bikes are a staple for many high-profile motorcyclists like Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise and even MS Dhoni.
Their current name and the political climate in the United States has led to a fall in its image. Any affiliation to the Southern Confederacy of the American Civil war was equated with supporting white supremacy. Confederate president H. Matthew Chambers said, “I think we lost a lot a business with that name. We’ve missed out on branding opportunities. So, it’s time to retire it.”
The company is now turning green – it tied-up with Zero Motorcycles, which makes sporty electric bikes. The company will now be called Curtiss Motorcycles, named after the famous aviator Glenn Curtiss. The first bike in the pipeline is the Hercules, which will be powered by two electric motors from Zero.
The Confederate name won’t go away immediately, the bike maker intends to sell the last of its recently released Cruiser, the FA-13 Combat Bomber.