TheScooterScoop

Yamaha gears up for the next new challenges – Markets – Times Online: “But the high price of crude oil and petrol has also played a role in shifting the dynamics of global motorbike sales, which are expected to soar to a total of 38 million units by the end of this year. In the US in particular, commuters are turning to motorbikes as a cheaper alternative to cars when the price of the black stuff surges.

Takashi Kajikawa is also convinced that he can keep the pace of innovation high enough to make Yamaha’s products attractive in markets where customers can buy cheaply made local brands. ‘I don’t think it is about defending ourselves. If they can legally copy our bikes, it’s OK, and we have to go further. I believe in our engineers and it is technology that makes the competition – the real competition. As long as we are in a mega-competition world, we cannot be passive,’ he says.”