Yamaha
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announced its consolidated business results for the first three months of fiscal year 2021 (the period to March 31st).
Total corporate net sales were 444.1bn yen (+48.3bn yen/12.2% compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year).
Sales grew due to rising demand for commuter models and outdoor family recreation in developed markets such as North America; a recovery in the motorcycle sector in emerging markets; and ongoing capital investment in China since last year. Operating income grew significantly thanks to the increase in net sales as well as cost reductions that helped absorb the effects of soaring logistics and material costs.
In its Land Mobility Business (motorcycles and related) net sales were 290.4bn yen (+30.1bn yen/11.6%); operating income was 19.9bn yen (+11.3bn yen/131.5%).
Motorcycle sales in developed markets unit sales in Europe fell due to supply delays from a shortage of shipping containers, but unit sales, net sales and profits grew overall thanks to continued growth in demand stemming from the booming outdoor and family recreation sector seen mainly in North America.
In emerging markets, unit sales increased everywhere except Indonesia, where the impacts of COVID-19 remain significant. Unit sales in Thailand, Taiwan, China and Brazil have recovered to levels on par with the first quarter of 2019. As a result, sales and profits increased accordingly.
Production of recreational vehicles (ATV/UTV, snowmobiles etc.) has fallen behind in response to the robust demand due to a parts shortage, but the ongoing growth in demand for outdoor and family recreation since last year resulted in higher unit sales.
Sales and profits with electrically power-assisted bicycles increased due to continued strong sales of complete bicycles in Japan and E-kits for Europe.
CEO apologises for delays
President & CEO of Yamaha Motor Europe N.V., Eric de Seynes, has moved to address the supply chain issues that are supressing deliveries to its European dealer network in a video address to the market released by Yamaha on April 29.
He starts by saying that "having endured a difficult 2020 year, we thought that the most complicated part of the Coronavirus pandemic was now behind us, both from a public health perspective and that of business.
"The initial outlook for 2021 was and remains positive. Demand has been recovering strongly since last summer, supported by a strong and committed dealer network - with many new products expected to be delivered."
"Unfortunately," he says, "this is not really the case now that we are getting into the 2021 season, as the long-term effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on the supply chain are becoming clear. These effects are making it difficult to fulfil our key duty of making enough products available to our extensive dealer network.
"For the last ten months, the availability of raw materials has become an issue in many areas, such as the semi-conductors required in the manufacturing of our smart keys, ABS braking system, ECU, etc. Shipping goods overseas was also problematical due to the very high demand for many categories of manufactured products, but these issues have been made bigger right at the start of the season by the unexpected crisis in the Suez Canal, involving the container ship the 'Ever Given', which was transporting several thousands of Yamaha products and components."
He went on to say that "everybody here at Yamaha, from procurement to factory, through logistics and sales teams, are working hard to minimise the impact and to ensure that all available products are delivered.
Addressing Yamaha's customers directly de Seynes said: "However, and fortunately, the situation will improve in the coming days, weeks and months.
YZF-R7
By Ben Purvis
Setting aside the inevitable arguments over whether a 73 hp twin should carry the same name as the hallowed OW02 YZF-R7 homologation superbike, Yamaha's latest entry to the middleweight sports bike arena is poised to breathe new life into a beleaguered part of the market.
Yamaha's new R7 won't reach European and UK dealers until October, so the all-important price has yet to be revealed, but there's a clue in the firm's strategy in America, where sales start in June. There, the R7 costs around $3,000 below the RS660 and roughly level with the CBR650R.
The R7 is heavily based on the well-received MT-07 naked bike, with the same Euro 5 parallel twin engine in a steel frame with aluminium cross braces around the swingarm pivot area. At 188 kg wet, it's 4 kg heavier than the MT-07, easily explained by the addition of a fairing, but lower gearing means its acceleration should be quicker. The top speed is higher, too, thanks to the MotoGP-inspired fairing shape and the fact that the R7 is Yamaha's slimmest sports bike - narrower even than the R125 and R3 - to give a tiny frontal area.
Despite sharing many parts with the MT-07, the R7 will have a distinct character of its own. The low clip-ons and rearset pegs give a completely different riding position, and the forks are new KYB 41 mm upside-downers, adjustable for compression, rebound and preload. The rear shock is also set up specifically for the R7, while the geometry is tweaked with a steeper head angle and shorter wheelbase than the MT-07, for quicker steering.
XSR125
By Ben Purvis
The trend for neo-retro bikes has a new family member - the entry-level Yamaha XSR125.
A clear rival for Honda's CB125R and Husqvarna's new Svartpilen 125, the Yamaha follows the same formula of wrapping a modern, water-cooled single and up-to-date chassis in styling that evokes the past.
Behind the oversized circular headlight lies the frame and 15 hp variable-valve-timed engine of the MT125 and R125, but there's no surcharge for the new styling - the XSR125 is actually a little cheaper than the MT125. At 140 kg wet, it's a fraction lighter than its sister models, too.
Both the lower weight and reduced cost are likely to come from the down-spec'd suspension, with 37 mm forks instead of 41 mm units on the MT125 and R125. Yamaha's key rival, Honda's CB125R, is both £250 cheaper and a 10 kg lighter, though, which could be a hurdle to the XSR125's success.
