Yamaha to launch new start-stop system-equipped Janus scooter in Vietnam

Yamaha Motor Co has announced the launch of the new Janus 125cc scooter in Vietnam from mid-August 2016.

Targeted at female riders, the Janus combines the Yamaha-patented Blue Core engine technology that according to the company, “offers both a powerful riding experience as well as economy and environmental performance, all packaged in a lightweight body design”.

This is the third model for the Vietnamese market to feature Blue Core engine tech, following on from the Nozza Grande in 2014, and the Acruzo in 2015.
Yamaha says the Janus is a volume-price segment scooter developed under the ‘Basic Scooter with Pride’ concept for female riders in their twenties.

Its main features include 14-inch scooter-style wheels at the front and rear based on the high-wheel model image popular in Europe; Blue Core engine tech for high fuel economy; 97kg chassis weight which is easy to handle thanks to a newly-designed, lightweight body frame; and a 14-litre storage space underneath the seat with capacity enough for two half-helmets and rain wear.

Fuel-saving start-stop system for Janus

In addition to the standard version Janus, the Janus Deluxe and Janus Premium models all feature the fuel-saving Stop & Start System that automatically stops the engine when the scooter is stationary at traffic lights. Furthermore, the Janus Premium features the smart key system as standard equipment.

A Yamaha survey has revealed that the Vietnamese motorcycle market recorded a total demand of approximately 2.85 million units in 2015 (Yamaha Motor survey), of which scooters comprised approximately 40 percent. As in India, the scooter market is booming in Vietnam.

The Janus, which is priced at 27,490,000 Vietnamese dong (Rs 82,368), is Yamaha Motor's first model to be launched in the volume-priced category following the premium-priced Nozza Grande, and the medium-priced Acruzo. The company says it aims to expand its sales in the Vietnamese market by providing a line-up covering all categories including the high, medium, and volume price ranges.

Manufacturing will be carried out by Vietnamese Group company, Yamaha Motor Vietnam Co., Ltd. (YMVN). The company is targeting sales of 100,000 units in the Janus’ first year of production.