Yamaha powered push-bikes…

Yamaha Motor has announced that it has signed an agreement with Hero Motors Limited — which owns Hero Cycles, India’s largest bicycle manufacturer—to establish a joint venture company for the manufacture of Hub-mounted drive units for electrically power-assisted bicycles (eBikes). The joint venture is scheduled to be established by the end of this November, with Yamaha Motor holding a 10% stake and Hero Motors holding the remaining 90%.

Today, Europe is the largest market for eBikes and about half of the market’s offerings use hub-mounted drive units that house the electric motor in the center of the drive wheel. As the global market for eBikes continues to grow, Yamaha expects the prominence of these hub-mounted drive units to rise accordingly and signed the agreement to establish this joint venture with that in mind.

Yamaha currently offers proprietary center-mount drive units, which are set in the middle of the bicycle chassis near the pedals. By adding the hub-mounted drive units manufactured through this joint venture to its portfolio, Yamaha looks to raise the overall strength and capabilities of its eBike business and thereby secure future business growth.