28 • November 2026 • Powersports Business

Yamaha Motor and John Deere are teaming up to develop future side-by-side vehicles, creating a new relationship between two major off-highway equipment manufacturers that could have significant implications for the utility SxS market.( Photo: Yamaha)

Yamaha Motor and John Deere are teaming up to develop future side-by-side vehicles, creating a new relationship between two major off-highway equipment manufacturers that could have significant implications for the utility SxS market.

The companies announced Oct. 6 that they have entered into an agreement covering the joint development and mutual supply of recreational off-highway vehicles( ROVs). Yamaha will contribute its powertrain and vehicle design expertise, while John Deere brings vehicle development capabilities, U. S. manufacturing expertise and customer insights.

For powersports dealers, the announcement could eventually mean new products entering the side-by-side market under one or both companies’ existing brands and dealer networks. Specific future products, launch timing, and production details have not yet been announced.

“ We are excited about this relationship and the opportunities it creates for Yamaha, John Deere, our dealers, and most importantly, our customers,” says Dean Burnett, president of Yamaha Motorsports USA.“ Together, two trusted global brands can accelerate innovation and bring greater value to the market.”

Jon Chase, vice president of John Deere’ s Turf and Compact Utility Business Unit, said the companies share a commitment to quality, innovation and strong dealer networks.

“ This collaboration will enable us to develop differentiated products that excite customers and create meaningful value,” Chase adds.

A FOCUS ON UTILITY SXS The companies said the effort will target the growing utility segment of the ROV market, where customers increasingly are looking for a combination of comfort and work capability. That focus puts the relationship squarely in one of the most competitive areas of the SxS business, where manufacturers target customers who use vehicles for both recreation and work.

Yamaha and John Deere said they intend to address a broader range of customer needs while expanding their respective market opportunities. The agreement builds on an existing relationship between the companies in the low-speed mobility( LSM) business.

SEPARATE BRANDS, DEALER NETWORKS Both companies emphasized that they will retain their respective brands, dealer networks, sales channels and customer relationships.

That means the announcement does not indicate that Yamaha dealers will begin selling John Deere products, that John Deere dealers will begin selling Yamaha products, or that either company’ s existing SxS lineup will be replaced. Instead, each company is