Kawasaki/Suzuki four-stroke Alliance - News - Dirt Rider

Kawasaki-built Competition Motorcycle First Offering from Alliance
Four-stroke motocross unit to be sold in September
IRVINE, Calif. (February 18, 2003)---
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Suzuki Motor Corporation announced today that the first jointly developed motorcycle to grow out of their business alliance would be sold worldwide in September of this year. The unit, to be produced by Kawasaki, is a 250cc four-stroke motocross machine.
Each of the companies will market their own version of this new competition motorcycle on a branded basis. Both will compete with their respective units in the All-Japan Motocross Championship beginning in April 2003.
Kawasaki and Suzuki announced their business alliance in August 2001. Starting in February 2002, mutual provision of a number of motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) OEM models has taken place in markets worldwide.
The Kawasaki-Suzuki business alliance has been taken a step beyond the mere exchange of OEM products. Using combined operational resources for this joint development project has allowed a new product to be introduced to the market after a very short development period.
Kawasaki and Suzuki will continue to work together, actively advancing OEM product exchange, joint product development, and sharing and purchasing of parts to yield greater benefits from their alliance.