Yamaha Motor makes and sells motorcycles and scooters in India for the domestic market and for export. The group builds two wheelers at plants in Surajpur in Uttar Pradesh and near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, and runs a separate research and development company for product engineering.
Ownership and structure
Yamaha Motor holds its India business through India Yamaha Motor Private Limited, which became a wholly owned subsidiary in 2001, with Mitsui and Co joining as a joint investor in 2008. A separate company, Yamaha Motor Research and Development India, handles engineering.
What India does for Yamaha Motor
India is a manufacturing base and sales market for Yamaha two wheelers, with plants in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and a dedicated research and development company.
Investment and deals
India Yamaha Motor planned to invest Rs 1,500 crore in phases through 2018 in its plant at Vallam Vadagal near Chennai.
Yamaha Motor's India business
Yamaha entered India in 1985 as a joint venture and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha Motor in 2001. Its plant at Vallam Vadagal near Chennai began production in 2015 with an initial capacity of 450,000 units a year.
In January 2026 the group announced a plan to merge its sales and manufacturing companies into India Yamaha Motor. Yamaha Motor Research and Development India remains a separate company focused on engineering and product development.
Key moves in India
- 1985: Yamaha entered India through a joint venture.
- 2001: The Indian business became a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha Motor.
- 2008: Mitsui and Co became a joint investor in the Indian business.
- 2012: Yamaha signed an agreement with the Tamil Nadu government in May to build a plant near Chennai.
- 2015: The Chennai plant was inaugurated on 9 September with initial capacity of 450,000 units a year.
- 2026: Yamaha announced in January a plan to merge its Indian sales and manufacturing companies into India Yamaha Motor.
Where it operates
Yamaha Motor runs its India business from Chennai. It also has a presence in Greater Noida.
At a glance
- Home country: Japan
- Global headquarters: Iwata
- Sector: Manufacturing & Supply Chains
- Business: Automotive
- Role of India: Sales market, Manufacturing base, R&D and engineering hub
- India entity: India Yamaha Motor Private Limited
- India head office: Chennai
- India offices: Chennai, Greater Noida
- India headcount: 3,450+ (2025)
- In India since: 1985
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