BMW, Honda & Yamaha Collaborate to Enhance Rider Safety

The three whizzy auto manufacturers BMW Motorrad, Honda Motor Co. and Yamaha Motor Co. have agreed on an MoU(memorandum of understanding), a formal agreement to raise motorcycle rider’s safety through a technology called Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) and the program is called ‘Connected Motorcycle Consortium.’ Hopefully, this technology would be lifesaving for two-wheeler riders. 

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The three companies are working together on a system that warns the riders about road conditions, hazards and traffic behaviour. The collaboration aims to increase safety, security and efficiency in two-wheel machines. 

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The C-ITS is a technology that will establish a communication with the other vehicles on the road and deliver an early warning of risk to the road user especially to the motorcycle riders. 

Tetsuo Suzuki, Operating Officer at Honda Motor Co. said "In order to speed up more motorcycle-specific safety developments, we intend to cooperate to promote a successful implementation of C-ITS in motorcycles and scooters,".

"Our companies are already active members of Car2Car Communication Consortium. We came to realise that the specific requirements of motorcycles are beyond the scope of this consortium. This cooperation is dedicated solely to the challenges relating to PTWs." Takaaki Kimura, Chief General Manager of Technology Center, Executive Vice President, Representative Director of Yamaha motor Co he further added. 

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ITS system is already designed for cars and it cannot be shifted to motorcycles because two-wheelers show different driving dynamics. The new electronic system needs to be flexible towards water, dust and vibration due to the lack of space availability.

Dr Karl Viktor Schaller, Executive Vice President Development BMW Motorrad says "Our aim is to promote a timely and comprehensive use of cooperative ITS systems in powered-two wheelers offering the potential to improve safety. We therefore encourage other companies to join us,".

This new agreement was declared on October 6, 2015 at the ITS World Congress held in Bordeaux, France. The three companies also motivated other two wheeler manufacturers to be a part of this consortium to enhance the safety.

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