Japan-headquartered motorised vehicle producer Yamaha Motor launched a $100m fund yesterday that will invest in developers of technology with the potential to benefit the environment.
The fund is expected to function over a 15-year period and help reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of the company’s business while facilitating its carbon offsetting activities. Plans for the investment vehicle were initially announced in July 2021.
Yamaha Motor manufactures motorcycles, motorboats and recreational vehicles, as well as engines and more specialist products such as golf carts and motorised wheelchairs that use electric vehicle technology.
The corporate cited sustainability as a key theme in the medium-term management plan it published in February this year and intends to form collaborative relationships with portfolio companies through the fund.
The fund will augment a Yamaha Motor open innovation strategy, which incorporates Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Yamaha Motor Ventures in addition to separate investments in larger businesses, such as ride hailing service Grab and driverless vehicle software developer Tier IV.
