Yamaha Opening Research & Development Company in India
Tue, 09 Apr 2013
Yamaha is opening a new research and development company for the Indian market. The newly-formed Yamaha Motor Research and Development India Pvt. Ltd., (YMRI) will be based in Surajpur, on the outskirts of New Delhi, near India Yamaha Motor‘s offices.
YMRI will be Yamaha‘s fifth R&D firm to be located outside of Japan, following locations in Italy, Taiwan, China and Thailand. The new company will part of Yamaha’s “New Medium-Term Management Plan“, and will work on creating new products for the Indian market.
According to Yamaha, India accounted for sales of 14 million motorcycles and scooters in 2012, with continued growth expected to push that number to 16 million units by 2015. Yamaha itself sold 350,000 units in 2012, but the company hopes to increase that number to 500,000 units in 2013 and 1 million by 2015. The new R&D center, as well as the opening of a second factory in Chennai in 2014 should help contribute to that goal.
Yamaha’s primary focus for India is producing new scooters, but the company reportedly has some motorcycles planned as well. The much rumored 250cc Yamaha sportbike is expected to launch in India and hopefully other markets, in 2014. IndianCarsBikes.in also reports Yamaha is also developing a new 110cc commuter bike to be priced under 40,000 Indian rupees (US$732).
[Source: Yamaha, IndianCarsBikes.in]
By Dennis Chung
See also: Yamaha M1 Engines Available for Leasing for 2014-2016 MotoGP Seasons, Pedrosa, Marquez, Bradl Talk About Racing, Motorcycles, And Each Other, On-Board Lap Of Circuit Of The Americas With Dani Pedrosa.