Kawasaki opens Brazilian plant

From Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

TOKYO, JAPAN — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. has announced that operations have started up at a new motorcycle production plant at its Brazilian subsidiary, Kawasaki Motores do Brasil Ltda. (KMB).

The plant’s launch was celebrated with a special ceremony on Oct. 7.

Built in Manaus, Amazonas, the new plant boasts a site area of approximately 13,000 square metres and an annual production capacity of 25,000 units. The plant will start producing the Z750 and Ninja 250R sportbikes before eventually expanding production to include other models.

KMB began selling imported motorcycles in October, 2008. The launch of local production operations is expected to bring the sales volume up to 7,000 units for 2010.