Yamaha to Build “First Yamaha Cars” at Batangas Production Plant

03/6/2015 | 10:11 0 Posted in Business and Finance, Employment

03/06/2015 – Tokyo | After five decades of focusing on motorcycles and power sports equipment, Yamaha is considering making cars for European and selected Asian countries including the Philippines.

Already a leader in motorbike production edging Honda, Yamaha plans to continue the mass production of its 2-seater cars.

The company already has a manufacturing plant for motorcycles in Lima Technology Center, Lipa-Malvar, Batangas, which produces motorcycles for the Philippine market. It is not revealed yet if the company will build another plant, especially in the spacious Light Industry and Science Park IV (LISP IV) which is currently under-developed at along Arterial Road in Malvar, Batangas.

Yamaha in the past had built several car models which will be produced massively in the future. Report says the production will start as early as 2019.

The move is part of the company’s diversification and expansion, and also to meet growing demands for small cars.

In the Philippines, demand for small cars has increased by 12% in the last five years according to land Transportation Office. In the last two years, demand for electric cars (e-vehicles) has also increased dramatically according to the agency.

“In Visayan provinces like Cebu, Negros Island, and Panay, multicabs are outselling pick-up trucks. Multicabs are extremely efficient vehicles and can go around anywhere either in off-road or in city. The price is also 10 folds lower than pick-ups”, LTO manager Vic Beltran told TPP.

Report says the company is trying to make the car affordable to middle-class working professionals like teachers, government employees, and even call center agent.

Official press release and other details is expected to be available on groundbreaking ceremony later this year according to the source.

/Hainako Yari/ Assisted Press Tokyo