Yamaha has agreed to acquire the electric bike drive and system business of German automotive supplier Brose, pending regulatory approval. If cleared by antitrust authorities, the unit will become part of Yamaha’s subsidiary, Motor eBike Systems GmbH.
Brose, traditionally focused on the automotive sector, has been active in the e-bike industry for the past decade but is now divesting its e-bike drive division as part of a strategic shift toward its core business. The sale includes Brose’s development resources and 110 employees based in Berlin. The purchase price was not disclosed.
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Since 2014, Brose has specialized in producing drive systems for electric mountain bikes, holding an estimated seven percent market share. The company ranked behind Bosch, Shimano, and Bafang but ahead of Yamaha in the segment. With this acquisition, Yamaha aims to establish a stronger European development base, enhance procurement in key markets, and improve operational efficiency to better respond to regional customer demands.
The divestment comes at a time when Brose is facing financial challenges. The company projected a €53 million loss for 2024 and announced plans to cut 700 jobs in Germany by the end of 2025 due to underutilized production capacity and rising costs. While Brose had previously acknowledged financial difficulties, it had not indicated plans to sell its e-bike business.
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For Yamaha, the acquisition marks another expansion into the German electric mobility sector. In 2024, the company completed the purchase of Torqeedo, a Cologne-based electric boat motor manufacturer previously owned by Deutz.