Japan’s loss will be Newnan’s gain, at least in terms of employment. Yamaha Motor Co. LTD, a longtime Coweta employer, announced earlier this week that the production of its all-terrain vehicle (ATV) line currently located in Japan will be transferred to the company’s Newnan facility. The transfer will begin in 2011 and should be complete by 2013.
The move to Coweta County will begin in early 2011, according to Coweta County Development Authority. The transfer will facilitate that consolidation of both production management and manufacturing technologies as well as afford an increased level of responsiveness to market needs by maximizing production in the United States, according to Yamaha.
The transfer to Newnan will integrate the production capacity of Yahama’s Japanese subsidiary, Yamaha Motor Powered Product Co., LTD (YMPC) into the company’s U.S. subsidiary, Yahama Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America (YMMC).
“We are pleased to have this additional ATV production transitioning to YMMC in Newnan, Georgia,” said Mike Martinez, General Manager of Yamaha’s ATV & SxS Operations. “We expect this transition to have a positive impact on the local economic community and provide worldwide recognition for our state-of-the-art facility and its ability to produce durable and reliable off-road vehicles.”
YMMC currently manufactures ATVs ranging in engine displacement from 250cc to 421cc. The production transfer will increase the facility’s production lineup to include a wide range of Yamaha ATVs up to models with large 700cc engines.
“It is certainly great news that Yamaha is transferring more production to Coweta County,” said Greg Wright, president of the Coweta County Development Authority. “Yamaha has been an important part of our community for over 20 years, and it comes as no surprise that the company holds the Newnan facility in such high regard, entrusting a major portion of its business to the local team.”
Yahama already employs more than 1,000 people in the Newnan facility which consists of three plants. Newnan manufactures four recreational product lines including golf cars, ATV’s, personal watercraft and SidexSide utility vehicles.
Yamaha’s Newnan facility is located off Ga. Highway 34 near I-85.
