Motorcycling’s Response to Russian War on Ukraine

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Yamaha and Suzuki join Harley, Honda and Polaris in stopping motorcycle shipments to Russia. (Yamaha/)

More than three weeks into Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, a growing number of motorcycle manufacturers, their parent companies, and some aftermarket companies are ceasing production and business operations in Russia, in response to that country’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. Others are pledging donations to humanitarian aid groups to give assistance to and help stem the tide of more 3 million displaced persons who have been forced out of their homes. Adding to the effort are new sanctions from Western governments that ban the sale and shipment of some motorcycles to Russia.

BMW, one of the more popular marques in Russia, has said it will stop vehicle exports to the country. (BMW Motorrad/)

Harley-Davidson and Polaris Inc. revealed their actions early in March. H-D announced it had “…suspended its business in Russia and all shipments of its bikes to the country,” and Polaris, manufacturer of Indian motorcycles, said it “is suspending exports to Russia” and “halting business with the country” around the same time.

Related: Harley Suspends Business in Russia

That same week, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. announced the suspension of exports of motorcycles and autos to Russia, citing “distribution and financial challenges,” and just this week, the Tokyo headquarters said it would “…donate 1 million euros to the Japanese Red Cross Society as humanitarian support for the many people in Ukraine and neighboring areas who are facing extraordinary difficulties.”

In addition, American Honda has said it would match donations made by associates who wish to support organizations providing aid to those impacted, as part of its existing HondaGO Give program.

BMW, whose motorcycles enjoy huge popularity in Russia, also issued a statement confirming it had stopped exports of all vehicles to that country, and was quoted in the NY Times as saying, “production would suffer at its factories in Munich.” For context, most of the company’s motorcycles are made in Berlin, though BMW has assembly plants in Thailand and Brazil for distribution to those local markets, as well as contract manufacturing agreements in China and India.

Ducati, whether intentionally or not, was another firm that found itself suspending vehicle exports to Russia early on, via an announcement from parent company Volkswagen Group emphasizing that its associated brands would be halting business there. The statement went on to say, “a sustainable solution to the conflict can only be found on the basis of international law.”

And on March 3, Suzuki too announced it would be halting shipments of motorcycles and cars to the warmongering country.

Honda has just announced the donation of 1 million euros to humanitarian relief efforts for the displaced. (Honda/)

That same week Yamaha, which sells motorcycles, snowmobiles, and outboard motors in Russia, suspended exports from Japan and other countries, citing “chaotic logistics networks.” It’s not clear whether the company intends to resume operations once those issues are cleared, but in a statement released earlier this week, Yamaha HQ in Japan said it will “…donate 700,000 US dollars toward humanitarian aid for Ukraine and its surrounding regions.”

Ural is the only Russian manufacturer of high-capacity bikes. On its US subsidiary’s Instagram page, the brand continues to show the simple message: “Stop War Now.”

Meanwhile, the Russia-born Sardarov brothers are in control of 100 percent of MV Agusta’s capital, and CEO Timur Sardarov issued an early condemnation of the invasion in an open letter, saying he “never thought that I would feel so betrayed by the action of my own country.” An additional post on Instagram stated simply, “No War.” it has since been deleted.

Bridgestone and Michelin are two aftermarket suppliers also committing to pulling out of Russia. (Bridgestone/)

Other companies pulling out of Russia include the Michelin Group which has said it is suspending its industrial activity in Russia, as well as exports to the country in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Michelin has halted production of passenger tires and truck retreads at its 18-year-old factory in Davydovo.

Bridgestone Corp. said earlier this week it will suspend operations while halting exports of tires to the country immediately, and just the other day said it would donate a total of around 500 million yen ($4.2 million) to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Red Cross, and other entities as humanitarian aid to Ukraine. That also includes a $250,000 USD donation made by Bridgestone Americas to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

In addition to individual companies taking action, Western governments have stepped up with sanctions as well, the latest coming just this week. In a just-released package of sanctions, the European Union will restrict the shipment of luxury goods to Russia. Motorcycles are considered a luxury item and the ban is enacted to target motorcycles worth more 5,000 euros and any other vehicle or boat over 50,000 euros.

This follows a package of US measures released on March 11. The Executive Order prohibits the “direct or indirect supply of luxury goods to any person located in Russia from the United States or by US persons.” Those  luxury goods include “apparel, autos, motorcycles, and artwork.”

Whether the reasons are economic or moral, the wholesale elimination of motorcycle sales in the country is unlikely to put any serious pressure on Vladimir Putin’s decision to wage war, but even the smallest of steps taken together can hopefully make a meaningful unifying statement.

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