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Published Thursday, May 19, 2011 in Local

Special

Employees at Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corp. in Newnan assemble a “side-by-side” utility vehicle on the plant’s flexible production line.

Yamaha celebrates move of ‘sport’ ATV production here

By SARAH FAY CAMPBELL

sarah@newnan.com

Dignitaries, Yamaha officials, and media representatives from around the county were on hand at Coweta County’s Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation Wednesday for the official press conference announcing the transition of sport ATV production to the Coweta plant, and the unveiling of Yamaha’s new “Assembled in USA” logo.

Yamaha’s “utility” ATVs and the Rhino “side by side” vehicles have been built at the Coweta plant for several years. However, the “sport” ATVs had been manufactured in Japan. Over the next few years, the vast majority of Yamaha ATVs will assembled in Coweta. The Coweta plant is already the only location in the world where the Yamaha Waverunner personal watercraft is built.

Toshi Kato, president of Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, based in Cypress, Calif., said he recently visited Alabama and was able to gain an extra “appreciation and understanding of the American outdoorsman, and just how important ATVs are to their lifestyle.”

Despite the economic downtown, the ATV market “continues to be a vitally important one,” Kato said.

The U.S. is “by far the biggest and most important market for Yamaha ATVs in the world.”

“I would like to express our sincere appreciation of the people of the state of Georgia, and the city of Newnan” for being such great business partners, Kato said, and he is looking forward to “building the very best ATVs in the world in the U.S.”

The transfer of the ATV production to Newnan will allow Yamaha’s Japanese subsidiary, Yamaha Motor Powered Products Co. Ltd. to concentrate on manufacturing generators, multi-purpose engines, and golf carts.

Harry Ito, president of Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation, said he wanted to express his appreciation for the dedication and hard work of all his employees at the plant just east of Newnan. “We couldn’t have done it without them,” he said.

“To commemorate today’s event and successful transfer, it is my pleasure to donate” Grizzly ATVs to the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office and Coweta County Fire Department, Ito said.

Helping the agencies that help keep our community safe is “just another way we can say ‘thank you,’” Ito said.

“We really couldn’t be more excited,” said Mike Chrzanowski, senior vice president.

Yamaha golf carts began being assembled at the Coweta plant in 1989. Utility ATVs were introduced in 1998, and the side-by-sides began production in 2003.

The golf carts, side-by-sides, and all ATVs will be produced on the plant’s flexible assembly line. Waverunners are produced on their own line.

“Nowhere in the world will you find the another company with the ability to produce four different product lines” on the same assembly line, Chrzanowski said.

YMMC has a dedicated workforce, and countless hours have been spent in training and preparation for the new product lines, Chrzanowski said. Preparation began in April of 2009.

When the transfer is complete, the number of ATV models will go from seven to 11, he said.

It’s estimated that YMMC will add approximately 200 new jobs over the next three to five years due to the transfer.

The transfer will also support Yamaha’s 1,300 dealer partners in the U.S., said Henio Arcangeli, president of Yamaha Motorsports.

He estimates that dealers will add 125 jobs because of the transfer.

“We want to express our sincere appreciation… for all of your support over the last 20 years,” Arcangeli said.

“I do want to thank Yamaha for bring all of these jobs to Georgia,” said Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, R-3rd District Georgia, a Coweta resident.

During the ceremony, there had been several remarks about the perfect weather for the event.

But Georgia’s, and Coweta’s, appeal is not just the weather. “It is our values that make us the best,” Westmoreland said. He then addressed the large group of YMMC employees on hand. “Had it not been for your hard work and performance,” this transfer wouldn’t be happening, Westmoreland said.

“I believe we can build pianos if they would let us,” he said.

Westmoreland also said he felt that getting more manufacturing in the U.S. is key to a real economic recovery.

“We appreciate companies like Yamaha that can see… we believe in business,” Westmoreland said. “That is the message we want to make sure we not only give Yamaha, but other companies,” he said.

Cynthia Jenkins, Newnan mayor pro tem, presented a proclamation declaring May 18 “Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation Day” in Newnan.

Assembly as well as production of many parts of the ATVs, golf carts and side-by-sides are done at the Coweta plant, including chassis welding and injection molding of all plastic. All engines are manufactured in Japan. Tires are purchased from a supplier across the street, Chrzanowski said during the plant tour, and some other items are purchased, but as many parts as feasible are manufactured on site.

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