Hiroshi Ito, current President of the Motorcycle & Engine Company at Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd, has announced that Kawasaki is aiming to increase production by expanding two locations in North America.

The company is planning to invest $265 million in increased production capacity over the next five years. One location in Mexico (Kawasaki Motores de México S.A. de C.V. (KMX)) is getting a whole new production facility, and Kawasaki will also expand its existing Nebraska factory.

What’s Expanding?

In the release, Ito states “Kawasaki is also increasing investments in new product development which will be available in the near future, especially in the growing MULE, ATV and JetSki markets as well as innovative new street motorcycles, our new electric, hybrid, and hydrogen power source projects and off-road motorcycles.”

This should create “thousands” of jobs in the United States and Mexico as a result.

The corporation is investing heavily in expansion right on the heels of a significant reorganization. “Kawasaki will change its organisation significantly in order to enable agile action in the rapidly changing world.  Kawasaki’s worldwide powersports (covering motorcycles, JetSki personal watercraft and recreational vehicles) and general-purpose engine businesses will become an independent company known as “Kawasaki Motors, Ltd” at the beginning of October 2021.” Hiroshi Ito will be the new Kawasaki Motors LTD President and CEO.

Supply chain problems be damned, Kawasaki is doing well and expanding production. What will a new company with a greater focus on motorcycles come up with in future production runs? Is the current (fantastic, in my opinion) lineup just a taste of what’s to come?

The industry as a whole has seen a huge uptick in demand. Folks who took up motorcycling during the pandemic found out how much fun it is, and sales are way up. As difficult as this pandemic has been on so many of us, the resurgence of motorcycles’ popularity might be a bright light for those of us who love the sport.

Vezi sursa