Indy finally moving all production to China?

[N.L.]

I know the forged baseplates and other parts have been made in China for some time but I'm seeing rumors that the whole truck is now going to be manufactured in China? Any truth to this? What about Thunder, Venture, Ermico?

[el chino]

im still skating my "usa", but fuuuck i dont want chindependents

[Level 60 Dwarf Paladin]

I don't see why not, everything else from NHS is made there.

[N.L.]

just bent my last pair of 'made in usa' 149s... will keep for posterity...

[sharkin]

This sucks..

My 3 year old pair are below the axle now

[Spicy boi.]

My pair doesn't say USA on the baseplate. rip

[Tracer]

Choosing slave labor over American made is a big mistake.

What's next our local parks get built in China and shipped over?

FUCK INDY

[FULTON]

I emailed nhs last year about what?s actually made here. They were confident it?s all made here except ?a few metal pieces like bolts and washers etc? and that?s why they can?t say ?made in USA? but they assured me the trucks are still almost completely made in sf.
If they move it to China I?ll never ride an Indy truck again and I?ve ridden them since 83.

I hope it?s a rumor. What?s the source ? Any proof ?

[Bubblegum Tate]

just bent my last pair of 'made in usa' 149s... will keep for posterity...

I sent mine back, bent within 2 months. Replaced with Reynolds 139 Hollow low.

[Chavo]

My newish 144s are the first Indys I've seen without the "USA" stamp underneath the baseplate (non-forged). A sticker denotes, "MFG in USA from US & Imported Parts." Molding dies are costly, so I assume a blank baseplate allows Ermico/NHS to move anywhere without having to create new tooling. It could also be that charging a premium for imported forged baseplates is confusing to customers who see the USA stamp as a sign of quality.

NHS has been making trucks overseas for many years, so the transition should be seamless. Unfortunately, with Fausto Vitello and Eric Swenson gone, the Ermico factory is the last remaining vestige of the original founders' brand heritage.

[N.L.]

I emailed nhs last year about what?s actually made here. They were confident it?s all made here except ?a few metal pieces like bolts and washers etc? and that?s why they can?t say ?made in USA? but they assured me the trucks are still almost completely made in sf.
If they move it to China I?ll never ride an Indy truck again and I?ve ridden them since 83.

I hope it?s a rumor. What?s the source ? Any proof ?

No proof. Just a  lot of murmuring on social media... Hope I'm wrong. Be sad to see Ermico stop making trucks in SF.

[N.L.]

Expand Quote

just bent my last pair of 'made in usa' 149s... will keep for posterity...

[close]

I sent mine back, bent within 2 months. Replaced with Reynolds 139 Hollow low.

Car ran over mine... not really Indy's fault.

[N.L.]

Chinese made doesn't necessarily mean bad quality but there are a lot more reasons to be concerned about american made options that should be obvious to most educated people in this post-globalized world.

not to mention the cultural significance the ermico foundry has had on skateboarding.

[CINCINNATI]

I always find it funny how people freak out about trucks being made in China. Does Chinese production really affect the way you kickflip or the way you switch 5-0 a flat bar...stop crying about Chinese production

I feel like indy is the only brand that pushes its "American made blue collar aesthetic", work shirts and American flags are ever present in their catalogs and how many times have you seen that old bowl troll with a curled up indy trucker hat at your local skatepark? yes you might not be able to really feel a noticeable difference in an offshore truck vs an ermico but mentally you know that you're getting something American made. like n.l. said, ermico has had a huge significance within skateboarding with Swenson and Vitello and the inevitable tie to thrasher. I've always tried to buy as much made in usa skate stuff as possible, but made in North America has been the next best thing. just my two cents

[FULTON]

I asked NHS this week about this and they said “they set up the cabability to manufacture overseas with all their brands in case something happens to Ermico etc but it’s all made here as of today”

It was kind of cryptic because why would you ready a Factory elsewhere?

They also said it’s getting harder and harder to manufacture in California. Which I understand—but it would be a sad day.

[TwisT]

I always find it funny how people freak out about trucks being made in China. Does Chinese production really affect the way you kickflip or the way you switch 5-0 a flat bar...stop crying about Chinese production

subtle brag...

[N.L.]

I asked NHS this week about this and they said “they set up the cabability to manufacture overseas with all their brands in case something happens to Ermico etc but it’s all made here as of today”

It was kind of cryptic because why would you ready a Factory elsewhere?

They also said it’s getting harder and harder to manufacture in California. Which I understand—but it would be a sad day.

good to know...

so whens stage 12 coming out?

[lk130]

Sorta sucks because the truck is the foundational unit to the skateboard and force behind all the skateboarding. Sucks if we couldn't make it proper here in the USA!

[iwishilivedinfinla]

a friend of mine broke a set of trucks and they denied him a replacement until he emailed then 4 different times. 

just saying

[Bizarro Jerry]

Anyone know what happened with Lizard and Indy? At 1:35 he says how he doens't fuck with indy anymore despite having an indy tattoo.  Just curious... maybe involving this move to China? idk

[Paco Supreme]

Anyone know what happened with Lizard and Indy? At 1:35 he says how he doens't fuck with indy anymore despite having an indy tattoo.  Just curious... maybe involving this move to China? idk

I noticed he's been riding thunders for a little while, im sure it's something more personal rather than Indy moving overseas

[FULTON]

And here’s the question. If Indy moves does Thunder? Because it’s a huge marketing opportunity if only Indy sells out and leaves. And if CA is so hard to manufacture in (which I know is true) why not move the foundry to Arizona or Texas?

[Level 60 Dwarf Paladin]

Indy's whole image and shtick is corny as fuck.  Move to China, who cares. Fausto and Swenson are gone, it's just an NHS Santa Cruz brand now. Other trucks turn, so whatever, no reason for blind loyalty anymore guys. 

This is coming from a guy with an Indy tattoo.

[Bizarro Jerry]

True, kinda just odd to think about in general.  Indy has this "fuck you! skate fast! go die! beer!! tattoos!!" imagery when really all they do is manufacture a metal turning apparatus for a toy.  It's not that serious... I'm kinda over my 144s and want to try some aces or the 148 thunders.

[SodaJerk]

Anyone know what happened with Lizard and Indy? At 1:35 he says how he doens't fuck with indy anymore despite having an indy tattoo.  Just curious... maybe involving this move to China? idk

Yes, yes  I'm sure Lizard King's departure from Indy was directly related to their possible shifting of production to China. That is the only possible motive.

[sid vicious]

Wish they would make a 144 low

[Atiba Applebum]

if the last time an Indy went to China is any example, then "Anything Goes"

[ibuproficient]

if the last time an Indy went to China is any example, then "Anything Goes"

Ha!

Put your head down on the desk and be quiet.

[smellsdead]

...

This is coming from a guy with an Indy tattoo.

prove it

[givecigstosurfgroms]

They made indy's in china about 12-15 years ago for a sec.  Quality suffered.    I've said it b4 but I'd love to see a persicion cut aluminum truck no cast shit.  They could make that in china or where ever and it would shit on cast trucks.