November 22th, 2007
Yanmar Co.,Ltd.

・Yanmar and Briggs & Stratton Alliance

Osaka, Japan - Nov 22, 2007 - Yanmar Co., Ltd. recently entered into a long-term alliance with Briggs & Stratton Corp. of Wisconsin, U.S.A. Both Yanmar and B&S share many objectives, including the development of highly efficient and cost competitive products, global procurement of parts and materials, world-class manufacturing process, as well as further expanding a strong sales network. This partnership marks both companies’ mutual aim to achieve growth through complementing each other’s strengths.

Currently Yanmar produces 70,000 gasoline engines for Yanmar group companies and OEMs in Japan. Yanmar will discontinue the development and production of its own gasoline engines due to the constraints associated with the ever more stringent engine exhaust regulations arising in the future. Instead, Yanmar will receive gasoline engines from B&S from the end of 2011 and focus mainly on development and production of diesel engines.

In addition, Yanmar plans to procure parts for Yanmar air-cooled diesel engines through B&S, which owns an engine manufacturing plant in Chongqing, China, from the end of 2007.

B&S will collaborate with Yanmar in the development of new engines that will meet Yanmar’s strict standards as well as the quality and cost requirements of the market.Collaborative development and rigorous tests will be conducted between Yanmar and B&S engineers to ensure these goals are met.

B&S will partner with Yanmar’s sales and service network in order to strengthen its sales in Japan and other Asian countries.

Yanmar Co., Ltd., established in 1912, is the world’s first manufacturer of compact diesel engine in 1933. Since then, Yanmar has expanded to become a world class maker of diesel engines, agricultural, construction and industrial machinery. With global headquarters in Osaka, Japan, Yanmar is known for the uncompromising quality of its products.

Briggs & Stratton Corporation is the largest manufacturer of small, air-cooled engines for lawn and garden and other outdoor power equipment.  The company is also the largest producer of generators and pressure washers in the United States.  Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in over 100 countries on all seven continents.

 

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