The big Japanese brands are slowly, but surely, expanding their electric-powered two-wheeler options, and Yamaha has made a fresh investment in a European EV operation. The tuning fork firm has invested in French electric off-road and trials bike maker Electric Motion SAS, which develops and manufactures electric motorcycles for trials and off-road riding. According to Yamaha, the investment aims to raise the presence of both companies in the electric motorcycle market and to delve into the possibilities available for competition with electric motorcycles. As strategic partners, the two companies will “bring together their respective expertise and capabilities to explore collaborative avenues in technology development.”
Founded in 2009, Electric Motion has sold its products under the EM brand name in approximately 40 countries worldwide – including Japan– and is steadily increasing its presence for competition trials and off-road bikes. Electric Motion’s products have competed in the Trial World Championship, the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup – the world’s premier electric off-road motorcycle racing series – and other events.
Meanwhile, Yamaha has been offering big discounts on its premium e-bike machinery, with the Booster Easy now on sale for just over £1700. Yamaha has also been promoting the government’s Cycle to Work scheme, which gives up to a 39% discount using employee benefit salary sacrifice schemes to pay for a new bicycle.