New models boost Yamaha sales

According to figures released by Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd., business is good.

The motorcycle manufacturer sent out a press release earlier this week saying their net sales of motorcycles rose 7.6 per cent in the first six months of 2015 when compared to the first half of 2014, and net income rose 61.7 per cent. In the tough North American market, their sales rose 28 per cent and in Europe, Yamaha saw a 14 per cent increase in sales.

While these financial snippets aren’t the most exciting news to many readers, news like this is important.

Of all the Japanese manufacturers, Yamaha has arguably put forward the best effort to develop exciting new models in the last couple years. While Honda offers motorcycles with DCT, Kawasaki offers sportbikes with stratospheric performance and price to match and Suzuki basically leaves their lineup unaltered, Yamaha has released several important all-new motorcycle platforms with decent performance, that buyers can actually afford. The FZ-09 platform, the FZ-07 platform, the R3 and the new R1 are all fast bikes that the press and public alike have been very excited about, and it seems that’s reflected in the sales sheet. Now, can the rest of the industry follow that lead?