Yamaha Motor is shifting its strategy toward a service-based business in Africa through acquisitions of local companies and collaboration with startups. It will conduct pilot projects in East Africa and explore new opportunities in local logistics and finance.
Double Feather Partners, led by Muto Kohei (武藤康平), and Yamaha Motor introduced initiatives to deepen their business development in the African market. Yamaha Motor is shifting its strategy toward a service-based business through collaboration with local startups and acquisitions.
In Uganda, it acquired a local last-mile logistics company and entered the logistics business. Going forward, the company and DFP plan to make joint investments and conduct pilot projects to develop financing mechanisms for drivers and verify cost reductions and income growth by switching from internal-combustion vehicles to EVs.
Yamaha Motor announced its participation in ACIP, the Africa Corporate Innovation Program. It will advance pilot projects in 3 areas: electric mobility, mobility finance, and mobility ecosystem operations. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is also involved in funding.
As the importance of Japanese companies partnering with local startups grows, Moove, a mobility fintech company from Nigeria, is considering entering the Japanese market. The potential use of its automotive loan and credit assessment technology to address challenges in the Japanese market is under discussion.