Yamaha wants to make electric two-wheelers for India
What's the story
Yamaha is contemplating the development of an India-specific electric vehicle (EV) platform, Itaru Otani, the Chairman of Yamaha Motor India Group, revealed.
The company is yet to enter the electric two-wheeler market in the country.
Otani said Yamaha will design its EVs based on a platform concept that shall suit the local conditions, highlighting this as an important element for their focus.
Strategic choice
Yamaha's strategic decision
The company is considering going with a locally developed platform for its EVs.
Otani emphasized that speed and execution will be critical in Yamaha's strategy for this decision.
He noted the many difficulties of the Indian EV market, particularly in terms of fulfilling customer expectations in terms of price, range, and speed.
Investment
Investment in River indicates interest in EVs
Yamaha has also invested in Bengaluru-based EV start-up River, which is backed by Toyota. This shows the company's interest in the Indian E2W segment.
Otani confirmed they are now exploring the potential of using River's platform for future EV products, saying, "River is making progress in the EV market, and they are doing a good job."
Market approach
Yamaha's EV focus: Performance over mass market
Yamaha is considering a performance-oriented approach for India, thinking that high-performance EVs fit better with its brand positioning.
However, Otani cautioned that such models require bigger batteries, which makes them pricier in India's price-sensitive market.
Despite active talks and research, Yamaha has not revealed its India EV launch timeline yet.