SockMonkey
Makin' Some Noise
This does not bode well for a Gen III FJR in 2010 - or possibly ever for that matter. As far as motorcycles are concerned, expect Yamaha to focus it's R&D dollars into "sure bet" products for the American market: cruisers (represented in their Star brand), dirt bikes and (if the latest gossip out of Cypress is true) dual sports to include the US launch of the XT660Z Tenere.
JAPAN
Yamaha begins to feel the economic pains as it braces for its first operating loss in 26 years.Last month we reported that the Japanese business press was starting to highlight the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers beginning to feel the effects of the global recession and some of their cost cutting measures, like reducing the salaries of the directors.
Following on from that this month, apparently Yamaha Motor Co. is now bracing itself for its first operating loss since 1983. For the year ending December 31st 2008, it is expected to sink 30 billion yen into the red. As we have previously reported demand is sagging not only for motorcycles, but this has not been helped by the decline in demand for outboard motors used for leisure boats in Japan, the US and Europe. Generating about 90% of its sales for these products abroad, the company will be hit hard by the strong yen as well as the drop in demand. It is claimed that Yamaha will slash domestic motorcycle production by 24% in 2009 to slightly over 260,000 units, the lowest output in roughly four decades.
As a result Yamaha continue to reducing executive salaries and other fixed expenses to at least help offset the continued slide. According to sources within, sales are projected to slide more than 10% from last fiscal year's estimated 1.6 trillion yen as the firm expects the tough climate to last until at least June.
But, it will not just be those at the top that suffer, as the company will close its main assembly plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, as well as upstream parts factories, for 10 days in February and March, reducing output by 13,000 units. It plans to negotiate with employees for additional work stoppages in the April-June quarter and intends to eliminate all non-full-time workers by the summer, as well as losing some administrative staff!
Ian Kerr, Contributing Editor, Motorcycle USA
JAPAN
Yamaha begins to feel the economic pains as it braces for its first operating loss in 26 years.Last month we reported that the Japanese business press was starting to highlight the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers beginning to feel the effects of the global recession and some of their cost cutting measures, like reducing the salaries of the directors.
Following on from that this month, apparently Yamaha Motor Co. is now bracing itself for its first operating loss since 1983. For the year ending December 31st 2008, it is expected to sink 30 billion yen into the red. As we have previously reported demand is sagging not only for motorcycles, but this has not been helped by the decline in demand for outboard motors used for leisure boats in Japan, the US and Europe. Generating about 90% of its sales for these products abroad, the company will be hit hard by the strong yen as well as the drop in demand. It is claimed that Yamaha will slash domestic motorcycle production by 24% in 2009 to slightly over 260,000 units, the lowest output in roughly four decades.
As a result Yamaha continue to reducing executive salaries and other fixed expenses to at least help offset the continued slide. According to sources within, sales are projected to slide more than 10% from last fiscal year's estimated 1.6 trillion yen as the firm expects the tough climate to last until at least June.
But, it will not just be those at the top that suffer, as the company will close its main assembly plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, as well as upstream parts factories, for 10 days in February and March, reducing output by 13,000 units. It plans to negotiate with employees for additional work stoppages in the April-June quarter and intends to eliminate all non-full-time workers by the summer, as well as losing some administrative staff!
Ian Kerr, Contributing Editor, Motorcycle USA
