Yamaha Motor Company manufactures motorcycles, marine vehicles, and motorized products from its headquarters in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan. The company emerged in 1955 as a spinoff from Yamaha Corporation.
Heritage Shapes Innovation
The company’s story began when Genichi Kawakami transformed a musical instrument manufacturer into a mobility powerhouse. Their first product, the YA-1 125cc motorcycle, won the Mount Fuji Ascent Race, establishing Yamaha’s racing DNA[1].
Product Range Defines Versatility
Motorcycle Excellence
Yamaha produces diverse motorcycles from sport bikes to cruisers. The revolutionary YZF-R1 introduced compact gearbox design in 1998, while the Star Motorcycles brand carved out the American cruiser market in 1995[1].
Marine Leadership
The company leads the water vehicle market globally. Their portfolio includes powerboats, sailboats, and the popular WaveRunner personal watercraft[1].
Racing Legacy Builds Reputation
Yamaha’s competition success spans 39 world championships, including:
- Seven MotoGP titles
- Ten 500cc class victories
- Two World Superbike championships
- 210 Isle of Man TT wins[1]
Technical Innovation Drives Progress
The company pioneered several motorcycle technologies:
- First production monoshock motocross bike (1975)
- Water-cooled motocross production bike (1981)
- Five-valve cylinder head technology (1985)[1]
Global Expansion Creates Impact
Yamaha operates through 109 subsidiaries worldwide. The company established major operations in Thailand (1964), the Netherlands (1968), and the Philippines (2007). In 2015, they invested $150 million in a Pakistan manufacturing facility[1].
Automotive Engineering Shows Expertise
Yamaha develops high-performance engines for major automakers. They engineered the Toyota 2000GT engine (1967) and created the Ford Taurus SHO V6 (1989-1995). Their expertise extends to Volvo’s V8 engines and numerous Toyota/Lexus performance powerplants[1].
Citations:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_Motor_Company
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (ヤマハ発動機株式会社, Yamaha Hatsudōki Kabushiki gaisha) is a Japanese mobility manufacturer that produces motorcycles, motorboats, outboard motors, and other motorized products. The company was established in the year 1955 upon separation from Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. (currently Yamaha Corporation) and is headquartered in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan. The company conducts development, production and marketing operations through 109 consolidated subsidiaries as of 2012.
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Native name | ヤマハ発動機株式会社 |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Yamaha Hatsudōki Kabushiki-gaisha |
| Company type | Public |
| TYO: 7272 | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1 May 1955 |
| Founder | Genichi Kawakami |
| Headquarters | , Japan |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Hiroyuki Yanagi (chairman & Representative Director) Yoshihiro Hidaka (president & Representative Director) |
| Products | Motorcycles, commuter vehicles & scooters, recreational vehicles, boats, marine engines, snowmobiles, small tractors, personal watercraft, electrically power assisted bicycles, automobile engines, unmanned aerial vehicles, golf carts, cycling components |
| Revenue | 2,414,759,000,000 yen (2023)  |
| Owners |
|
Number of employees | 52,664 (as of December 31, 2014) |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Website | global |
Led by Genichi Kawakami, the company's founder and first president, Yamaha Motor spun off from musical instrument manufacturer Yamaha Corporation in 1955 and began production of its first product, the YA-1 125cc motorcycle. It was quickly successful and won the 3rd Mount Fuji Ascent Race in its class.
The company's products include motorcycles, scooters, motorized bicycles, boats, sail boats, personal water craft, swimming pools, utility boats, fishing boats, outboard motors, 4-wheel ATVs, recreational off-road vehicles, go-kart engines, golf carts, multi-purpose engines, electrical generators, water pumps, snowmobiles, small snow throwers, automobile engines, surface mounters, intelligent machinery, industrial-use unmanned helicopters, electrical power units for wheelchairs and helmets. The company is also involved in the import and sale of various types of products, the development of tourist businesses, and the management of leisure, recreational facilities and related services. Yamaha's motorcycle sales are the second largest in the world and Yamaha is the world leader in water vehicle sales.