HONDA Motor Co., Ltd. and YAMAHA Motor Co., Ltd. are in a Consultation about a Collaboration in Motorized Bicycle, such as OEM Supply of Honda 50cc Model

HONDA Motor Co. and YAMAHA Motor announced that they started to study about business alliance collaboration in the 50cc motorcycle class, including the 50cc motor scooters and electric two-wheeled vehicle in Japan, on October 5, 2016.

Considerations to the collaboration, including the OEM supply

What to consider towards the business collaboration has been announced, to the supply of OEM some models of HONDA production to YAMAHA, to jointly develop the next 50cc scooter business and to make effort in infrastructure development and to do problem solving for the electric two-wheeled vehicle spread of 50cc motorcycle class.

In addition, they are facing challenges that should be solved as a motorcycle manufacturer such as corresponding to the reinforced laws and regulations that are safety standards, emission regulations and etc., and promotion of electrification.

Under this environment, HONDA and YAMAHA had a common recognition that they need to work toward solving these issues. And they aim at collaboration in the 50cc motorcycle class in Japan.

The problem of 50cc motorcycle class to Galapagosization.

It was clear that 50cc which has been used as a main transportation for Japanese for a long time is at a crossroads in the motorcycle industry to globalization by this announcement.

The main motorcycle in Asia is more than 100cc. And 50cc motorcycles are hardly utilized. Currently, Large volume zone of the manufacturer’s production concentrates on engine displacement of more than 100cc.
There was an era that various 50cc models had been lineup in the new model rush that we called “HY war”, but nowadays, each manufacturer advances the consolidation of the brand and the sports model is only a handful in 50cc motorcycle class.

We want to focus on the trend of manufacturers which supports the motorcycle industry on how to collaborate in the future from this announcement.

From the following release

The main contents towards collaboration

1. Supplying 50cc scooter models as an OEM
With a target timetable on before the end of 2018, HONDA would begin supplying 50cc scooter models to YAMAHA as an OEM that are developed based on the HONDA TACT and Giorno. These 50cc scooter models HONDA are currently producing and selling in Japan. YAMAHA will sell these models as corresponding models of the YAMAHA JOG and Vino.

2. Joint development/OEM supply of next-generation 50 cc business scooter models
HONDA and YAMAHA are currently developing, producing and selling 50cc business scooter models for the Japanese market, namely the HONDA BENLY and YAMAHA GEAR, respectively. The two companies will look into the feasibility of the joint development and OEM supply from HONDA to YAMAHA of a next-generation version of these business scooter models.

3. Collaboration toward the popularization of electric motorcycles in the Class-1 category
For the purpose of further popularizing electric motorcycles mainly in the Class-1 category in Japan, the two companies will look into possible collaboration in the area of establishing the foundation necessary to address various issues relevant to electric motorcycles such as range, charging time, performance and cost. By broadly sharing the achievement of such collaboration with other motorcycle manufacturers and relevant industries in the form of proposals, the two companies will strive to further facilitate the electrification of motorcycle products.

With these future collaborative efforts, HONDA and YAMAHA will strive to make people’s lives more enjoyable through Class-1 category vehicles, which are accessible and a user-friendly means of transportation for many people. Moreover, the two companies will work toward the further revitalization of the Japanese motorcycle market.

[Comment by Shinji Aoyama/Operating Officer and Director, HONDA Motor Co., Ltd.]
“Through this collaboration with YAMAHA, we will continue to offer Class-1 category products that go beyond the expectations of our customers. With that, we will devote all of our efforts to revitalize the motorcycle market in Japan and establish a market environment that enables the popularization of electric motorcycles at the earliest possible timing.”

[Comment by Katsuaki Watanabe/Managing Executive Officer and Director, YAMAHA Motor Co., Ltd.]
“We believe that our collaborative activities, which will start with an OEM alliance, will go beyond the framework of a mere product supply alliance and carve out a future motorcycle culture in Japan.”

HONDA Motor Co., Ltd. Press Release
YAMAHA Motor Co., Ltd. Press Release

Original Source [HONDA/YAMAHA]