Yamaha Shuffles its Top Management

World’s second largest motorcycle maker, Yamaha Motors, is making losses in its India operations. It has recently appointed a new CEO hoping to turnaround its loss making operations into profitable ones. This year India has witnessed three chief executives in the country.

Tsutomu Mabuchi, who was appointed as the CEO in January 2008, had replaced T Ishikawa who was a turnaround specialist. However, Ishikawa could not work wonders in the Indian market since past two years and was called back by the parent company. He soon returned to India to join Bajaj Auto in April 2008 as a full-time advisor to the company.

Now Mabuchi has been called back to Japan and will be replaced by Y Tsuji as the new CEO. The company spokesperson has denied commenting on appointment of a new CEO in the company stating that he has not received any official communication to this effect.

India has a 6 million motorcycle market of which Yamaha currently occupies only 3 percent share. It used to hold nearly 25 percent market share till mid-nineties. The company has introduced several new models this year, the 150 cc YZF R15 and FZ16 and two super bikes, the 1,670 cc MT 01 and 1,000 cc YZF R1. It hopes to capture larger market share in India once again as the country is one of the biggest two-wheeler markets in the world.

• India Yamaha Motor records 40 per cent sales growth in January 2012           February 02, 2012
• Yamaha to increase production and develop new products by investing Rs. 800 crores           January 10, 2012
• Yamaha India's annual sales increase by 31.6 per cent in 2011           January 02, 2012
• Yamaha India plans to strengthen its position in the rural market           September 19, 2011
• New Yamaha R15 coming on 6th September           August 22, 2011
• Yamaha India registers 28.49 per cent surge in sales in July 2011           August 04, 2011
• Yamaha to introduce scooters in India next year           May 30, 2011
• Yamaha launches new FZ series bikes in India           May 13, 2011
• Yamaha ties-up with Deccan Chargers (DC) for season 2011           April 13, 2011
• Yamaha to establish third manufacturing plant in India           April 04, 2011
• Yamaha mulls to launch new electric bike in India           March 07, 2011
• New Yamaha FZ1 This December           November 25, 2010
• Yamaha FZ Midnight Special – Limited Edition Variant Launched           October 14, 2010
• India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. to get a new CEO           October 06, 2010
• Yamaha Re-jigs its Plan for the Indian Market           August 17, 2010