KYB and Yamaha join forces
A joint venture between Yamaha Motor and suspension specialist KYB will see the two giants tackling the global motorcycle suspension industry head onYamaha Motor and KYB have announced the formation of a joint venture that will see the two companies pool their resources and know-how to launch a major offensive in the motorcycle suspension market.
A tentative date of July 1, 2013, has been set for KYB – which manufactures suspension systems for all manner of automotive applications – to divest itself of its motorcycle suspension division. Yamaha will then purchase roughly one-third of the shares available in the new company, which will be known as KYB Motorcycle Suspension Co Ltd.
According to a Yamaha press release the objective of the joint venture is to, “establish a global supply capability for motorcycle hydraulic shock absorbers and other products. The goal is to sell products with the best performance and quality in the world at competitive prices. Plans call for selling these products to motorcycle manufacturers worldwide, including Yamaha Motor.”
The move comes not long after the establishment (in December 2012) of a major KYB motorcycle suspension production facility in India. The facility is scheduled to begin supplying shocks to Yamaha’s Indian motorcycle production plant, in Chennai, from 2014.
KYB is a major heavyweight of the suspension world with 32 facilities located across 21 countries, including 15 manufacturing plants in Asia, Europe and the USA. With over 12,000 employees, it recorded net sales of ¥337b in 2011. Its Gifu North production facility in Japan (pictured) is reportedly the largest plant of its type in the world.
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