Japanese company Yamaha will negotiate a price with each customer whose vehicle is among those with a factory tampered engine serial number.
The company is now recalling 160,000 motorbikes made between October 2021 and November 2024 to identify whether the serial numbers on their engines have been tampered with by factory workers.
Yamaha said its workers had on their own removed incorrectly stamped numbers and replaced them with new ones before assembling the vehicles.
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Yamaha PG-1, a model among those recalled by Yamaha Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Luong Dung |
This has resulted in some customers complaining that they were unable to register the vehicles as authorities had found signs of tampering.
A Yamaha media representative told VnExpress Thursday that the company will have “suitable options” to guarantee the rights of its customers, in which the buyback option will be prioritized.
But the company has not announced a buyback price range. Instead it will negotiate a price with each customer.
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The serial number of a motorbike engine as seen on a Yamaha-recalled vehicle. Photo courtesy of Yamaha PG-1 Vietnam Facebook group. |
In situations when the company cannot reach an agreement in buyback price with the customer, it will refrain from resolving any legal issue concerning the use of the vehicle.
Yamaha, however, promised to offer the “best option” for its customers.
The company estimates that among the 160,000 vehicles recalled, around 1-2% are affected by the tampering issue, which is equivalent to 1,600-3,200 motorbikes.
Yamaha is working with Vietnamese authorities to investigate the issue.
Vietnamese law prohibits tampering of engine serial numbers and authorities can seize vehicles if they see signs.
