Kawasaki has rolled out its plans for the next fifteen years and they are at least as green as the home color. At least 15 BEV and HEV models will be put on the market in the next four years, and everything must be CO2-neutral by 2035.
The announced restructuring of Kawasaki Heavy Industries late last year, with a new Motorcycle & Engine division being presented as a spin-off, was interpreted in various media as the death knell for Kawasaki, but judging by the Business Policy Breefing of the newly founded Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. seems to be the opposite where the are.
The 40-page report outlines plans for all divisions operating under Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. fall (motorcycles, off-road four-wheelers, Jet skis and power units such as lawnmowers). The goal of Kawasaki Heavy Industries is to build a business with the new spin-off that doesn’t sell stuff, but happiness. This can already be seen in the “Let the good times roll” slogan that has been dusted off.
In the coming years there will be considerable upscaling in all areas. By 2030, turnover should have grown to 1 trillion yen (that is a 1 with 12 zeros), or 7.765 billion euros, more than doubling the 410 billion yen forecast for 2021. This can be achieved because the new spin-off has created a flexible and lean organization that can respond quickly to changes from the market.
The focus at the new Kawasaki Motors is on C02 neutrality, responding to the rapidly growing demand for off-road four-wheelers, and heritage and innovation.
On the former, by 2035 all major models for developed countries will have electric propulsion: BEV or HEV. For those who are not familiar with the electrical slogan: BEV stands for Battery Electric Vehicle, HEV stands for Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
It is not yet known what form the BEV/HEV will be in. When asked, we were told that all options are being explored in Akisha, from fuel cells to synthetic fuels. The use of CO2-neutral fuels (hydrogen) is mentioned in the report as one of the paths towards CO2-neutrality.
The figures for the shorter term show that there will be considerable upscaling in the coming years. By 2025, according to the report, an average of 16 models will be launched per year, including the BEVs and HEVs, but don’t be blind to that number. The core of the matter is here in the mention of BEV and HEV engines.
As the first of the Japanese brands (and one of the first worldwide, after BMW and Harley-Davidson), Kawasaki has committed itself to CO2-neutral mobility in the very short term. The plan is to have at least 10 different BEV/HEV engines and 5 BEV/HEV off-road four-wheelers on the market by 2025.
At the end of last year, Kawasaki already lifted a corner of the shutter in a 4-part video of what the future will look like, in addition to hybrid technology, artificial intelligence and autopilot were then mentioned.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.