Yamaha Motor Europe NV announces that its European production site in Saint-Quentin, in France, previously known as MBK Industrie SAS (MBK), has been renamed Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Europe SAS (YMME).
The name change, accepted by the MBK works council, to YMME, is part of Yamaha Motor's long-term vision and reinforces its commitment to local European manufacturing, an asset to competitiveness and sustainable development.
YMME will continue its diversification towards a multi-product factory and towards electric mobility. For many years now, this site has manufactured flagship Yamaha models such as the Ténéré 700, MT-125 and XMAX, assembled the new range of Yamaha eBikes and customized Yamaha motorized two-wheelers and quads for specific needs. Europe.
The introduction of the Ténéré Extreme and Ténéré Explore last November are the most recent proof of the factory's capabilities. Finally, as previously announced, YMME will begin producing eDrives in March 2024.
MBK has been a 100% subsidiary of Yamaha since 1986.
It has been a tremendous rise from Motobécane to MBK Industrie, and now from MBK Industrie to Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Europe. This ultimate integration of YMME into the Yamaha Motor Group marks a new era in the factory's history, where it will continue to strengthen its vital role in Yamaha's business in Europe.
Olivier Prévost, president and CEO of Yamaha Motor Europe NV
“It is with great emotion that I appreciate the transition from MBK Industrie to Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Europe. I started my career at MBK 30 years ago, and all these years I have paid close attention to MBK. The operation and product range have been constantly evolving to reach today a high level of excellence allowing the production of flagship Yamaha models in this factory. This was possible thanks to the commitment and efforts of all employees over the last 40 years. I would like to express my gratitude and thank them all. Looking to the future, it became clear that it was now time to change the name to Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Europe. More than a symbolic gesture, this is a clear recognition of the company within the Yamaha Motor Group and will help expand the Yamaha product range. Finally, as a former MBK employee, I am very proud to tell my colleagues at YMME that now we are finally all “Yamaha employees”. Let’s continue to move forward by taking advantage of our local Yamaha manufacturing, which is a competitive advantage and a sustainable advantage.”
Patrice Maciejewski, president of Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Europe SAS
“The name change from MBK to Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Europe is an important recognition of the efforts made by all employees over the past years to transform the company to be able to produce Yamaha's flagship models such as the Ténéré 700 family. We continually compare our quality standards and methods with those of our parent factory in Iwata, so that we can achieve similar quality levels. We believe that our installation in Europe will be a key asset for Yamaha in the eMobility sector, in order to meet the requirement to reduce carbon emissions in local production. Today, after 100 years of existence under the names Motobécane then MBK, we are very proud to fully join the Yamaha family and become employees of Yamaha.”
