Given the announcement that it will stop producing snowmobiles from 2025, we should not expect the Japanese manufacturer to launch any major new products this season.
“The Yamaha snowmobile lineup for 2024 is essentially the same as what was already available,” explains expert Denis Lavoie of Motoneiges.ca. There were some small changes on an aesthetic level, but not in depth. There are no major new features and this is understandable with the announcement the company made early last summer. Those in charge announced that there would be final production of snowmobiles in 2025, but after that it would be over. »
Above all, we must not believe that the company has any intention of disappointing fans who have always been loyal to the brand.
“People who currently own Yamahas or have ordered a snowmobile this season and even for 2025 will not be left to their fate when production ends.”
“The dealer network will remain in place, as will the sales network. So when it comes to parts, Yamaha will still be available. If you have a breakdown on a snowmobile that you already own or are about to own in the next 10 years, finding replacement parts online shouldn’t be a problem. »
According to the expert, the company must support its dealers and therefore also the enthusiasts who have placed their trust in it.
WHY WITHDRAW
For many enthusiasts, especially Yamaha enthusiasts, the company’s decision may seem inexplicable.
“You have to understand that the snowmobile market is very limited in terms of units sold,” explained Denis Lavoie. In my opinion, the final blow was that a few years ago, before 2020, Yamaha sold a lot of snowmobiles in Russia, especially the VK model. This market is closed with everything that is currently happening in Ukraine. The company has followed the move of the industry’s major players to stop selling snowmobiles in Russia. »
As company officials have reported, the entire budget allocated to the snowmobile sector will be allocated to other niches that will be more profitable in terms of selling machines such as motorcycles and quads.
“Yamaha recently posted a video online about a hydrogen-powered side-by-side engine. Is this one of their new avenues, will they turn to electric vehicles, bicycles or other vehicles? What is certain, however, is that for dealers who mainly sell snowmobiles, abandoning this segment could become a real problem,” the expert concluded.