A production facility in France has been renamed Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Europe (YMME), making it Yamaha’s European production base.
The plant was previously called MBK Industrie S.A.S., referred to as “MBK”, and was already used as a production facility by Yamaha Motor Europe, which has owned the entire facility since 1986, for bikes such as the Tenere 700, MT-125 and XMAX. The renaming of the plant “is part of Yamaha Motor’s long-term vision and reinforces its commitment to local European production as a competitive and sustainable advantage,” says the manufacturer.
The plant will diversify its product range, with electric vehicles becoming more relevant, according to Yamaha.
The name change from MBK to YMME is one of the first actions Yamaha Motor Europe has taken under its new president and CEO, Olivier Prevost, who took over from Eric de Seynes on January 1.
Prevost said: “I am very excited to see the evolution of MBK Industrie into Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Europe. I started my career at MBK 30 years ago and, for all these years, I have paid particular attention to MBK.
“The operations and product line have been continuously evolving to reach a high level of excellence that allows Yamaha’s flagship models to be produced at this plant. This has been possible thanks to the involvement and efforts of all employees over the past 40 years. I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to all of them.”
“Looking to the future, it has become clear that it is now time to change the name to Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Europe. More than a symbolic move, it is a clear recognition for the company within the Yamaha Motor Group and will support the adoption of a more comprehensive range of Yamaha products.”