Yamaha Plans New Electric Vehicle Platform From India.
Yamaha Motor Co. on March 2, 2025, in New Delhi shared that it is developing an India-centric electric vehicle (EV) platform. The move is to tap into the booming EV market in India and also create electric mobility solutions in a world that is increasingly seeking green transport.
Japanese two-wheeler giant Yamaha is shifting gears to India’s electric future. The company has been looking into EV’s for a number of years, but plans to develop a platform indigenously here in India, for the valuable Indian market. This also comes as rivals Honda and Suzuki launch their own electric models in 2025. As India accelerates toward cleaner transport, ve Yamaha views it as an opportunity to stake a claim in the world’s largest two-wheeler market.
The new platform is likely to underpin electric two-wheelers tailored to the local market, delivered in Yamaha’s inimitable style. The move comes after the company invested ₹332 crore in River, a Bengaluru-based EV startup. This India-specific platform will favor affordability and ruggedness for the NEO’s scooter to handle the country’s wide-ranging roads, unlike its global NEO’s scooter. Yamaha’s Japan-based research team is collaborating with its Indian counterpart to fast track this.
With insights from the project’s Chairman Itaru Otani. “We really want an EV that suits India’s particular market,” he said in an interview in New Delhi recently. “The key here is speed and execution.” That indicates Yamaha wants to get it out soon, but not so soon as to give a precise date. The company is also considering whether to adjust a global platform or to build completely from scratch.
Conclusion
Yamaha’s move to join India’s EV market may ruffle a few feathers. If it succeeds, it could galvanize more local innovation and jobs. Next steps include completing a design for the platform and establishing a timeline for the launch. With contenders already running the race, Yamaha’s move can reshape 2W travel in India.