Yamaha Motor Co. to stop making snowmobiles

Yamaha Motor Co. plans to withdraw from the snowmobile business. According to an announcement made on Wednesday, Yamaha will end sales of snowmobiles in North America through the 2025 model year.

Yamaha released its first snowmobile, the SL350, in 1968. The company tried to grow the business by introducing an environmentally-friendly 4-stroke model. However, Yamaha says it determined that it will be difficult to continue a sustanable business in the snowmobile market.

Along with North America in 2025, it will end sales of snowmobiles in Europe through the 2024 model year, and is already only selling in-stock snowmobiles in Japan.

Going forward, the company says Yamaha will concentrate management resources on current business activities and new growth markets.

The company says it will ensure parts availability, service, and related customer satisfaction now and after the snowmobile final production run occurs. Production of the 2024 models is underway and is scheduled for delivery in the fall.

Production of the recently introduced 2024 models is underway and scheduled for fall delivery. The company says it will work with dealers to minimize impact in the coming months.

Yamaha is currently one of four snowmobile manufacturers, including Arctic Cat, Ski-doo, and Polaris.