Video: Yamaha Announces 2022 Production Cuts

Despite making major efforts to reduce the quantity of externally resourced materials and components after a year of setbacks, delays and reduced production numbers in 2021, Yamaha Motor Corp. USA announced early February 9th, 2022, that the total remaining production run of 2022 model WaveRunners will be reduced by 30-percent.

In a letter addressed to Yamaha WaveRunner dealerships, the industry’s second-largest manufacturer of personal watercraft cited low supplies of raw materials, heightened shipping costs and compounding shipping delays, along with a shortage of external suppliers as causes for the prolonged manufacturing and ultimately, reduced number of total units being produced this year.

This news comes on the heels of a similar letter issued by Kawasaki Motor Corp., stating that its total production of 2022 JetSkis will also be heavily reduced in an effort to shore up supplies for a full production run in 2023. Meanwhile, Sea-Doo production continues at a slowed but steady pace with fewer units arriving at dealers requiring further assembly.

The original email issued to dealers read as follows:

Dear Yamaha WaveRunner Dealer,

Like most manufacturing sectors on the US economy, we continue to be challenged by the Coronavirus pandemic and its effect on our supply of raw materials and parts at our WaveRunner manufacturing facility.

Although there are mitigation plans in place to reduce those production disruptions that we can control, the fact is the supply chain, and overseas shipping, have yet to recover at the speeds necessary to keep up with the our production demands.

Unfortunately, this means that we will be unable to fulfill your remaining orders in total.

We project that this will impact 30 percent of the remaining WaveRunner orders, varied by dealer due to model mix. We expect to have more information soon and order reductions completed in the next 30 days.

Please know that we will do everything possible at our manufacturing facilities to make up these losses; and that we continue to seek alternative suppliers and other means of shipping to minimize production downtime. Our number one priority is to deliver as many WaveRunners to your dealership as quickly as possible.

We will continue to provide you with the most accurate information on what to expect in what remains an unpredictable and dynamic situation. In the meantime, thank you for your patience and ongoing support for the Yamaha brand.