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Yamaha Releases Statement Clarifying Joint Venture with CFMoto

A view of Yamaha Motor Company's headquarters. Media provided by Roadracing World.
A view of Yamaha Motor Company's headquarters. Media provided by Roadracing World.

A month ago, we covered Yamaha’s intentions to build with CFMoto for China’s markets. The joint venture was christened the “Zhuzhou CF Yamaha Motor Company,” with the original press release detailing the following:

Yamaha Motor has positioned China as one of its important production and sales bases and will continue to discuss the direction of the joint venture with CFMOTO going forward with the aim of further raising competitiveness.”

Yamaha Motor Company

While we were happy for the joint venture’s continual successes, certain questions remained unanswered. 

Was Yamaha going to make motorcycles with CFMoto for American markets? 

Atsuhiko Okano, the President of Yamaha Motor Company (China). Media provided by Japan Times.
Atsuhiko Okano, the President of Yamaha Motor Company (China). Media provided by Japan Times.

We leave below Yamaha’s public response, a clarification piece published to Visordown:

“Following up the Yamaha Motor – CFMoto joint venture announced on September 15th by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Yamaha Motor would like to clarify that the collaboration solely consists of an industrial cooperation to manufacture vehicles in China, for the Chinese market.

Yamaha Motor has positioned China as one of its important production and sales brs, and this joint venture is premised on the acquisition of the clearances, permits, etc., required by competition laws and other laws and regulations.

Beyond that, Yamaha Motor will continue to discuss the direction of the joint venture with CFMOTO going forward with the aim of further raising competitiveness, but no other cooperations are at present in place.”

Currently, the Zhuzhou CF Yamaha Motor Company will be staying in China’s markets – and while “vehicles” are stated in the above blurb, the primary task for Zhuzhou CF Yamaha Motor Company is confirmed to be “the ‘Production and sale of motorcycles.”

We still don’t know the displacement of these bikes being created, but seeing as Chongqing Jianshe Mechanical and Electric Co.’s business dealt in small-capacity scoots prior to the company equity transferral to CFMoto (here’s that press release), we’re thinking CFMoto and Yamaha will keep things small…. For now. 

A view of Yamaha's concept bike, the MOTOROiD. Media sourced from Yamaha Motor Company.
A view of Yamaha’s concept bike, the MOTOROiD. Media sourced from Yamaha Motor Company.

What do you think of CFMoto’s new joint venture with Yamaha?

​*Media sourced from Roadracing World, The Japan Times and Yamaha Motor Company*