Yamaha and NBA Join Forces for Exciting New Scooter Range

BRANDORA Editorial Staff - February 2009
 

Yamaha Motor Europe is proud to announce the start of a fantastic new partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) – North America’s premier professional men’s basketball league.

The influence and impact of the NBA now extends far beyond US shores thanks to the growing presence in the NBA of European stars like the LA Lakers’ Pau Gasol (Spain), the San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (France), and the Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki (Germany).

Young Europeans regularly watch NBA basketball and understand that the NBA logo stands for dynamic, ultra-cool action at the highest level of international sporting endeavour.

These young Europeans also recognise what Yamaha stands for: dynamic, cool scooters operating at the highest level of engineering excellence.

For this reason Yamaha has decided to commemorate its exciting new partnership with the launch of an equally exciting new scooter, the BW’s NBA.

The BW’s NBA is based on one of the world’s best-known automatic scooters, the BW’s Original. The ruggedly built, fully-automatic 50cc BW’s has become a byword for urban independence among young and first-time European riders. Both the BW’s and its new brother the BW’s NBA are do-anything, go-anywhere scooters that anyone can ride and enjoy – a fact that’s well understood by thousands of young riders around the world. To anyone looking for an easy introduction to the world of scootering, the BWs and BWs NBA represent an ideal solution.

The NBA is a showcase for some of the world’s most outstanding athletes, with NBA players achieving legendary status and recognition around the globe.

The BW’s NBA takes the BW’s well-deserved popularity and reputation for reliable, low-cost fun and now adds a huge helping of street credibility through this new exciting partnership with the NBA.

Every BW’s NBA comes with a genuine NBA logo on the front engine cover and two sets of top-quality logo sets for six leading NBA teams: Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. BW’s NBA owners can customise their scooter with the logo of their favourite team and then emphasise their allegiance with the ‘number 1’ stickers that are also part of the graphics set. For ultimate personalisation, owners can apply the graphics themselves, or they can simply let the dealer apply them.

The BW’s NBA two-tone dual seat is special too, with black stitching, a rubberised Yamaha logo tag and – a perfect finishing touch – the black embroidered ‘NBA’ legend on the rear panel. The result is what could well be the coolest scooter ever to go on general sale. Speaking about the partnership, Yamaha Motor Europe’s Division Manager for Powered Two-Wheeler Sales/Marketing Division, Mr. Arno Sunnotel said: ‘Speaking about the partnership, Yamaha Motor Europe’s Division Manager for Powered Two-Wheel Sales/Marketing, Arno Sunnotel said: ‘This is a great deal for both Yamaha and the NBA. It will certainly help to further extend the profile of the NBA across Europe, while of course Yamaha will benefit from its connection with one of the world’s most exciting and glamorous sports.

The kind of go-ahead and globally aware young people who form the BWs customer base in Europe are exactly the same young people who enjoy NBA basketball. This partnership is a perfect fit for both our operations.

Together, Yamaha and the NBA will make a great team.’

‘We are proud to announce the launch of this co-branded initiative with such a globally recognised brand as Yamaha, enabling us to extend the NBA licensee to an exciting new category,’ said Ben Morel, NBA Vice President, Global Merchandising Group EMEA. ‘This showcases the power and attraction of the NBA brand and the appeal it has for teenagers and young adults around the world.’

The first BW’s NBA scooters will go on sale in European Yamaha dealers from May 2009 – and there’s sure to be a heavy demand for the BW’s NBA uniquely personalised brand of cool scootering fun. Key features for BW’s NBA scooter:
  • Ultra-cool NBA and BW’s graphics set
  • Specially embroidered NBA seat
  • Yamaha’s legendary 50cc two-stroke air-cooled engine
  • Both electric and kick starters
  • Instantly identifiable Yamaha dual headlights
  • Handy luggage or helmet-carrying hook by the rider’s knees
  • Comfortable built-in grab handles for a pillion passenger
  • Grippy and forgiving 10inch tyres
  • Super-efficient 180mm front disc brake, 110mm rear drum brake