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Hardware is what typically dominates product launches, but just as in the world of 4-wheeled EV, so in 2-wheeled EV (e-bikes), software is now the critical element. Fabio, talk to us about how this looks from a Yamaha viewpoint. A sure sign of a maturing market, and e-bike system manufacturers coming to better understand what is required to best support the ecosystem - bike brands, distributors, retailers, and end users (riders). At Yamaha, we have worked exceptionally hard to close the gap here. It’s fair to acknowledge we got the balance wrong previously and now have corrected this. Bosch sets the after-sales service support standard against which all others are measured, regardless of whether people want to admit that or not. Now we see another Tier 1 auto industry business, ZF, taking this approach with their portal. Yamaha has made this move, with the rollout starting in France and expanding across Europe. We know what is required from our motorcycle and marine businesses, dealers tell us, distributors tell us. Now, even Bike brands tell us. We take this feedback and make a plan, which results in the Yamaha Motor Academy (YMA) - known as YTA outside of Europe. So, the French dealers can now access training and educational material, videos, guidelines, troubleshooting, manuals and so on, through our online Yamaha Motor Academy. And we will progressively expand this to other countries.
And this software conversation also extends to making your system something which can communicate with other innovators - an ‘approved supplier’ list, those working in ways you see, respect, and admire. Yes. Talking about the system, PW-Link, we can now link and integrate our system with the external world. A massive step. We started working with industry players like Commodule or BlueBrake and other big partners in the mobility and bicycle industry to link our system with their technology. This also means we have a Yamaha app, and this makes it possible to pair external solutions from a partnership-approved provider. In the technology sector, this is all about the API. Whilst our display and controller are simpler, they are solid and dependable. When we partner with others in the eMobility space, we have an app which enables them to get the most from the integration. Connectivity with the external world is via a standardised open CAN system.
Talking hardware, and a complete system, how does Yamaha make this work? Are there also partnerships here? As Yamaha, we are not experts in everything for sure. Motor is our core business. It’s even our name, Yamaha Motor. So the core business is motor. We work with a very strong partner for
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PW-Link System X4 Drive Unit
the battery and display. So we design everything. We produce motors by ourselves. But batteries and displays are produced by strong partners in Asia. The battery manufacturer and supplier is active in the auto industry, making for a pioneer in the EV space. A quality product that is universally respected. Of course, we cannot arrive and reach everything. So we decided with an open CAN protocol to communicate with the external world, keeping our overview of the system and guaranteeing that the compatibility comes with the different brands. Important to repeat here: We are not open to everybody. We have selected a few for each category, whether it is GPS tracking anti-theft, ABS systems, or other smart components, and that’s the meaning of the PW-Link system. So we are finally linking our system with third parties. Before, it was only Yamaha. A major step for us. And here we are also able to draw on innovations from the motorcycle industry.
Cross-sector two-wheeled innovation: As more electronics become involved, does this share of technology grow in its value?
Of course, we are a sports company. We have a strong heritage in racing. So, when we launch a product, the first one goes to the pinnacle of technology. But then there is a trickle-down effect, whether it is trekking, urban, cargo and so on. But yeah, we have different product groups dealing with different segments of mobility. We have electric scooters, we have four-wheeled electric vehicles, and even electric marine products. So, for sure, we can transversely apply some strategies and some synergies.
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