KAWASAKI

Brand announced that all of its motorcycles sold in developed countries will become fully electric by 2035

The company also plans to explore hydrogen propulsion as a short-term solution as they move towards zero carbon.

With the pandemic issue, many people see motorcycles as the best means of transport, as they offer a lower risk of infection.

According to Kawasaki Chief Executive Yasuhiko Hashimoto, the manufacturer is open to partnering with other companies and individuals in order to achieve its ecological goals.

“Outdoor leisure activity became popular during the pandemic. Therefore, we will strengthen our environmental efforts with a focus on the post-pandemic lifestyle. Partnerships with other companies may be possible in the future,” said Hashimoto.

Evolution...The most drastic first step is to launch about 10 battery-powered models by 2025, before switching permanently to EV power in 2035 in Japan, Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia. While short-term plans may include new nameplates, if the company's entire range is electrified in the next 14 years, that means fans will have to get used to the idea of ​​having an all-electric ZX-6R, a ZX- 10R or Z650, just to name a few of their most popular gasoline powered bikes.

Numbers: Kawasaki vs. the competition...Last year, Kawasaki sold 380,000 motorcycles, despite having a global market share of about 1%. The brand has a strong presence in Japan and also in North America. As for rivals, Honda is still the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles. Meanwhile, Yamaha wants to make 90% of its models electric by 2050, which would put them slightly behind Kawasaki in terms of their electrification goals.

Autonews