Yamaha begins production at new motorcycle plant in Argentina

Yamaha Motor Co has announced that Yamaha Motor Argentina's (YMARG) new motorcycle manufacturing plant  in General Rodríguez, located in Buenos Aires, Argentina has gone on stream.

The opening ceremony of the new plant was held on July 15 and was attended by Yamaha Motor's president and representative director Hiroyuki Yanagi and the president of YMARG, Pablo Hlebszevitsch. 
The new plant, spread across 16,520 square metres and essentially set up to expand sales in the Argentine motorcycle market, is located around 20km from the old plant. It employs approximately 300 personnel and will have an annual production capacity of 150,000 units. Production of six models that are sold in Argentina – Crypton, YBR125, XTZ125E, FZ16, YBR250, and XTZ250 – is to be transferred from the old factory. 

Due to restrictions on imports of completed motorcycles in Argentina since 2012, manufacturers have been increasing their local production. Overall motorcycle demand in 2014 is expected to drop from the previous year due to the effect of the devaluation of the Argentinian peso in late January. However, because Argentina has a history of steady growth thanks to the country's economic growth and a young population, demand is expected to increase long term.