Motori Minarelli sold to Fantic
As part of what it says
is a strategy to "reinforce a cooperation with Fantic Motor", Yamaha
Motor Europe is "transferring all issued shares" in its Bologna based
Motori Minarelli engine manufacturing subsidiary to Fantic Motor (Dosson
di Casier, Treviso).
Yamaha began consultations with the European
Works Council (EWC) in October. Founded by Mario Agrati in 1968 and
manufacturer of the legendary Caballero line, Yamaha says that "Fantic
has been a long-time business partner of Motori Minarelli.
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| Fantic Caballero |
"This transfer of issued shares is aimed at further strengthening the ties between Yamaha Motor and Fantic, and based on the consultation process with the EWC, the relevant contracts and paperwork for conducting the transfer to Fantic is scheduled to be complete within the year".
Motori Minarelli is said to produce 80,000 motorcycle engines of 50 to 400 cm3 annually, and supplies engines to MBK Industrie S.A.S. (France) - Yamaha’s European motorcycle manufacturing subsidiary - and to other motorcycle manufacturers in Europe, including Fantic since 1970. The company traces its origins back to 1951 (established as F.B.M. - Fabbrica Bolognese Motocicli - by Vittorio Minarelli and Franco Morini) as a full bike (scooter/moped) manufacturer.
The two partners split in 1956 with Vittorio starting F.B. Minarelli, changing the name to Motori Minarelli in 1967. In the 1970s average production ran to 200,000 two-wheeler and 50,000 agricultural engines. Their greatest race successes came between 1978 and 1981 when Motori Minarelli won four 125 cc manufacturer titles and two rider world championship titles.
Having started making 50 cc engines in the early 1990s, the company was selling to the likes of MBK, Yamaha Motor Espana, Aprilia, Malaguti, Beta, Rieju and others and saw production peak at 700,000 units in 1998 when it employed some 500 people.
The four-stroke 125 cc scooter engine which was added to the production of two-stroke engines had doubled its manufacturing footprint by the end of the 1990s, becoming wholly owned by Yamaha by 2002.
