ITARU NATO, PRESIDENT, YAMAHA MOTOR INDIA Group Photo: Bijoy Ghosh | Photo credit: Bijoy Ghosh
Yamaha prepares to enter the two -wheel electricity market in India, with plans to launch its first electric vehicle model (EV) within a year, according to a senior official.
The Japanese car manufacturer is adopting a two -pointed approach to the development of EV worldwide. A clue implies building a dedicated EV platform for key markets, influencing India, with teams specialized in Japan that work in close collaboration with the Yamaha d center of Yamaha in India. Yamaha is also a partner of new companies such as River in India and Gogoro in Taiwan, Itaru otani, president or group of Yamaha Motor India, Business line.
While Ntani did not reveal more details about the next EV, he emphasized that Yamaha will not go to the budget segment. “We won the mass travel space. It does not align with our strategy, and our product will carry a premium positioning label,” Hey said.
Initial investments
Yamaha invested in World of River in February 2024. The new company based in Bengaluru focuses on the manufacture and sale of electric scooters. This investment aims to unlock new business opportunities in the EV Indian market and the local experience of Lever to jointly develop Premium electric mobility solutions.
Otani said Yamaha recognizes the dynamic change in the mobility panorama of India, driven by the evolution of consumer preferences, the growing demand for premium products and rapid urbanization. Around the last three years, the two -wheeled industry has demonstrated remarkable resilience, with electric scooters gaining traction for the short -range and last mile travel needs.
The two -wheeled electrical segment of India has expanded rapidly in recent years, fed by government incentives and a growing urban client base. Both established players and new participants have launched EV models, with EVs now representing about 6-7 percent of total two-wheeled sales. However, Otani said that market growth has been subject to fluctuations, largely due to subsidies and financial challenges faced by the main actors.
Among the three main Japanese manufacturers: Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki, this strong presence in India, Honda has already made its movement in the EV space with the launch of its assets E and QC1 electric scooters. The Suzuki motorcycle did the same, presenting its first electric scooter, the e-access, in the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 in New Delhi earlier this year.
Posted on April 15, 2025