'We will continue to focus on introducing attractive, innovative, aspirational and exciting products'

In conversation with Eishin Chihana, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India Group

- Interviewed By: Aspi Bhathena Jim Gorde

How were the numbers for Yamaha Motor India at the time you took over? Were they encouraging?

When I joined, I learned that the two-wheeler market had been under pressure for the last two to three years due to the pandemic and rise in raw material costs after the BS6, ABS/CBS regulations and mandatory insurance. There was also some delay in market recovery because of the outbreak of the third wave and shortage of semiconductors and we had been taking countermeasures and purchasing semiconductors even at higher prices to support our dealers. Nevertheless, Yamaha has been sailing through these challenges with good profit projections. This is because before 2017, Yamaha Motor India was struggling as it was chasing volumes. Since 2018, though, under “The Call of the Blue” brand direction our operating profit percentage has been increasing. The reason being Yamaha’s shift towards the premium segment. As a result, Yamaha Motor India had a remarkable turnover in 2021, especially with the launch of five major products. This also enabled us to command a strong 15 per cent market share in the premium motorcycle segment in 2021, which in the calendar year 2020 stood at 9.7 per cent. Of the 5.22 lakh units sold in 2021, 60 per cent comprised only motorcycles.

Which area do you see as a priority to bring about the biggest change?