Yamaha Motor Co of Japan (YMC) has announced the appointment of Yasuo Ishihara as the new president of Yamaha Motor Research and Development India, effective March 15, 2015. Yasuo Ishihara takes over the position from the previous managing director, Toshikazu Kobayashi.

Yasuo Ishihara has been associated with Yamaha for over 29 years, including 6 years in Vietnam. Prior to this position, he served as the group manager at YMC handling promotion of VE (Value Engineering), Project Management of Procurement Centre and Management of Component Development (Suspensions/Lamps). He had also been a general manager at Yamaha Motor Vietnam where he established research and development function.

Speaking on his appointment, Yasuo Ishihara said, “This is the most exciting and challenging role for me so far. Yamaha is known for its stylish and innovative product line-up which makes it the most exciting brand in the two-wheeler industry in India.”

In February 2013, YMC set up Yamaha Motor Research and Development India (YMRI) at Surajpur in Uttar Pradesh to function as the second Integrated Development Center, following the establishment of the ASEAN Integrated Development Center in Thailand. After Italy, Taiwan, China, and Thailand, YMRI is the fifth overseas R&D headquarters for Yamaha Motor Group. The Integrated Development Center aims to contribute to India's operations by ‘change drawings’, tailoring reforms to design, maintenance and production standards, optimising them to fit the Indian market and provide low-cost models to customers while increasing Yamaha’s manufacturing competitiveness in the country.