Yamaha's new R&D facility in UP to develop low-cost bike

Showcasing its commitment to the highly competitive Indian two-wheeler market, Yamaha Motor has established the Yamaha Motor Research and Development India (YMRI) in Surajpur, Uttar Pradesh, which will be its R&D headquarters in the country. The new facility will be used to optimise production standards and help Yamaha design new low-cost two-wheelers especially for the Indian market. Also Read: Honda sets up new R&D facility

Speaking on the announcement Hiroyuki Suzuki, CEO & Managing Director, India Yamaha Motor, said, “We at Yamaha strongly believe in constant innovation. The R&D centre will help us to put channelised effort in conceptualisation of new models and parts keeping in mind the changing customer preferences. This will help us not only to develop models and parts for India market but also to develop models and parts for export markets as well”.

The YMRI is the fifth overseas R&D headquarters for the Japan-based two-wheeler manufacturer after Italy, Taiwan, China and Thailand. Yamaha is the only manufacturer apart from Honda which has registered positive sales in the country last month. The company sold 50,473 units sold in March 2013 taking its total sales in FY2012 to over 3.5 lakh units. Related: Japanese bike makers rack up high sales; Indians stutter

Yamaha also announced that it will be adding a new manufacturing plant in Chennai, which will be operational by 2014 while also increasing its dealership spread.