News Release

YANMAR Co., Ltd. and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announced today that they have agreed to a business alliance for the U.S. ROV (Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle) business. The companies will conclude a contract by the end of the year for the OEM supply of Yamaha’s multi-purpose VIKING and VIKING VI (Yamaha model names) ROV models to YANMAR from December 2016, and for YANMAR to sell these products under the YANMAR brand name from January 2017 utilizing its farmer-oriented dealer network in the U.S.

The aim of this business alliance is to expand sales in the growing U.S. ROV market by leveraging the strengths of the two companies, namely Yamaha’s technical capabilities and manufacturing know-how, and YANMAR’s farmer-oriented dealer network in the U.S.

The two companies share the same values of creating and developing markets through Monozukuri (engineering, manufacturing and marketing), and have previously worked together in the fields of industrial-use unmanned helicopters, generators and snow blowers.

The demand for ROVs in the U.S. market has been increasing in recent years, and they are used for a variety of applications, from practical work such as agriculture and dairy farming to leisure-oriented purposes. To meet the needs of this market, in 2013, Yamaha launched the VIKING, a 3-seater multi-purpose model which provides practicality, easy handling and comfort, and in 2014 launched the VIKING VI, a 6-seater model which delivers high-grade driving performance and comfort for a large number of passengers. YANMAR has for many years supplied just diesel engines and drive units to the U.S. agricultural transportation vehicle (including ROVs) market. Through this business alliance, YANMAR is taking the next step towards entering the ROV product sales field.

The two ROV models to be supplied on an OEM basis from Yamaha to YANMAR feature an exterior design refreshed to YANMAR specifications through new coloring and graphics, and will be sold under the YANMAR brand and model name as new gasoline engine-powered products. Manufacturing will be carried out in the state of Georgia by Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America.

Outline of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

Company Name: Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: 2500 Shingai, Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan
Founded: July 1, 1955
Representative: Hiroyuki Yanagi, President, CEO, and Representative Director
Capital: 85,782 million yen
Employees: 53,306 (Yamaha Motor Group consolidated basis; as of December 31, 2015)
Business Activities: Manufacturing and sale of motorcycles, scooters, electrically power assisted bicycles, boats, water vehicles, pools, Japanese-style boats, fishing boats, outboard motors, all-terrain vehicles, recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), engines for racing carts, golf cars, general-purpose engines, generators, water pumps, snowmobiles, compact snow blowers, automobile engines, surface mounters, industrial robots, industrial-use unmanned helicopters, electrical power units for wheelchairs, helmets for road use, etc.
Net sales: 1,615,400 million yen (consolidated basis, for fiscal year 2015 ending December 31)

Outline of YANMAR Co., Ltd.

Company Name: YANMAR Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: 1-32, Chayamachi, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan
Founded: March 22, 1912
Established: January 28, 1936
Representative: Takehito Yamaoka, Representative Director, Chairman and President
Capital: 6,300 million yen
Employees: Approx. 18,000 (YANMAR Group consolidated basis; as of March 31, 2016)
Business Activities: Research, development, manufacturing, and sale of small engines, large engines, agricultural machinery and facilities, construction equipment, energy systems, marine, machine tools and components, etc.
Net sales: 703,800 million yen (consolidated basis, for fiscal year 2016 ending March 31)