Business – Report at the Saint-Quentin plant: from Motobecane to MBK – Occasions MBK

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Report at the Saint-Quentin plant: from Motobecane to MBK

Business - Report at the Saint-Quentin plant: from Motobecane to MBK - Occasions MBK

The elders remember Motobecane and the djeunz ride in MBK. What do they have in common? It is the same brand, bought by Yamaha in 1984 following its bankruptcy filing. What about today ? Report from the MBK plant in Saint-Quentin (Aisne).

From Motobecane to MBK:
historical landmarks

Originally, in 1923, Motobecane was based in the Parisian suburbs (in Bobigny in particular), but the premises became too small to cope with the growing demand for mopeds. The brand enjoyed its heyday in the 1960s, with more than a million vehicles per year, 5,000 employees on the site and more than 1,000 dealerships in France !

A new factory was therefore built in Saint-Quentin (02) between 1963 and 1968 for the production of bicycles and mopeds. The famous "Bleue" by Motobecane, the last copy of which was released in 2004, became a best seller, then the cycling activity was taken over by two former MBK executives who outsourced it..

In the 80s, Motobecane could not face the Italian and Japanese competition: the products became obsolete, both technically and aesthetically, and the company filed for bankruptcy in 1984. Yamaha then took stakes in 1985, became the main shareholder in 1986 then fully bought the company. Motobecane becomes "MBK", the contraction of "Motobecane" in the telex used at this time which suddenly seems distant…

MBK therefore becomes a 100% subsidiary of Yamaha Motor Group and the Japanese, "after launching a study on the image of Motobecane, find that it was a reliable but old-fashioned brand", summarizes Michel Pagès, a former Voxan who became responsible for MBK public relations. A new product was therefore taken over in 1990 by MBK with the Booster, a small 50 cc scooter that was a hit. !

It’s sad, but that’s how it is: despite the explosion in sales of two-wheelers in recent years (read our), and after having known its heyday in France until the 1960s, the two-wheeler motorized vehicles are struggling today to establish themselves in France as a real individual transport solution, in the face of public opinion blinded by the whole security…

"In the 60s, the Mobylette was the Clio of today", rightly recalls Michel Pagès, head of communication at MBK. But today, when it is not a nauseating" platform "in a" big "evening daily, it is an official stigmatization of the dangers of two-wheelers, and when it is not an abusive verbalization for non-obtrusive parking in big cities, it is a stubborn refusal to consider the motorcycle or the scooter as excellent alternatives to urban traffic…

From rural wardens to urban youth…

However, two hours from Paris, there is a large pool of jobs directly linked to motorized two-wheelers: the town of Saint-Quentin, in the Aisne, where the headquarters of the MBK factory (formerly Motobecane , now owned by Yamaha).

While Voxan did not sell a single motorcycle last month (read our), which Peugeot Motocycles, in the Doubs, is struggling to arbitrate between the increase in working time and the relocation of certain activities in Asia, is it still possible – and profitable! – to produce motorized two-wheelers in France? Meeting with Philippe Bezière, head of MBK, during our visit to the Saint-Quentin factory.

When leaving the motorway in the direction of the industrial zone of Saint-Quentin (02), two hours north of Paris, visitors quickly find themselves around a roundabout adorned with "statues" for the least original: a granny who comes back from the market by bike, a couple of lunch on a Booster and a rural policeman on the famous "Blue" moped … Their common point? Motobecane, the French brand that became MBK following its acquisition by Yamaha in 1984.

Right in the middle of corn fields and wind turbines, the MBK site covers 340,000 m2 with four buildings covering a total of 141,000 m2. And the sign at the entrance clearly displays the color: "MBK Yamaha Motor Group".

Once past the security services, the factory tour takes place in the company of Michel Pagès and Laurent Duez (public relations), Pascal Tivol (vice president manufacturing) and Philippe Bezière (sales vice president and head of MBK).

Building A – of the four on the Saint-Quentin site – is entirely devoted to the processing of raw materials. To put it simply: on one side we enter huge rolls of metal and other aluminum ingots, and on the other it comes out of frames, engine housings, pots or handlebars … Impressive !

Men, women and robots

In the building dedicated to assembly, the Saint-Quentin plant has an assembly line for 50cc scooters, one for large scooters (125 and 250cc) and one for motorcycles (YZX 125R and XT660).

In noise and heat, workers occupy workstations "almost autonomous", which means that they are directly responsible for their production.

And if the "shell" is carried out by robots, the workers – and workers, because the Saint-Quentin factory also has a lot of women – must constantly supply the machine, manually carrying out the difficult welding spots. access, stick the stickers on the plastic parts, etc..

Once the frames are welded and assembled, they go through the impressive step of cataphoresis, a process similar to electrolysis: hung from a chain like the carcasses of mechanical oxen, in an airtight space heated to over 180 ° C, they are immersed in a paint solution crossed by an electric current which gives them their stainless black finish.

MBK: the anti relocation ?

We are not a "screwdriver" factory that would only do assembly", specifies Philipe Bezière, pointing out the dangers of relocations:"today, labor is not the most important item in the cost of a product. The current strength of the euro (exchange rate) is pushing many companies to relocate, but this gain, which is real today, is a little artificial and exposes companies that make this choice to a risk of a turnaround (in addition to the difficulty quality control). Relocation of production to China is therefore not that interesting, unless we accept a lower level of quality with less good parts … In addition, our market is mainly located in Europe and I find that it it is better to produce in Europe to avoid exchange rate risks, even if the decision to relocate or not belongs to the Yamaha group".

Then, in the painting sector itself, the cleanliness conditions almost make you think of a surgical unit! Dressed in a white jumpsuit from head to toe, the painters track down the smallest particle of dust … and for this reason ask us to stay away. !

In total, nearly 200 units of each model can be produced each day, but the pace varies according to the season (hence the use of temporary workers). Thus, the Saint-Quentin plant can release up to 230 YZF125R (read) and as many XT660 (read) every day..

The company achieved a turnover of 320 million euros last year and the operating account is "positive since 2005", specifies Philippe Bezière, commercial vice-president in charge of MBK after having started at Sonauto (the first Yamaha importer in France) before joining Yamaha Motor France as sales director, then Yamaha Europe for eight years..

MBK Industries is headed by a Japanese president, Mr. Akira Nishiyama, and five French vice-presidents. It employs nearly 800 employees at its Saint-Quentin site "who have been working 35 hours for many years", note in passing Philippe Bezière.

The factory manufactures the XT 660 (Trail and Supermotard versions) and the latest sporty YZF 125 R for Yamaha in particular, as well as outboard motors and of course the entire MBK range: with the exception of motors Minarelli which come directly from Italy, so everything is made in Saint-Quentin.

Today, MBK achieves most of its turnover with 50cc scooters (35.4%), 125 and 250cc scooters (27.4%), XT660 (12.5%) and engines excluding -bord (11.8%).

The production capacity of the MBK plant breaks down as follows:

  • Between 50 and 60,000 units for 50cc scooters (2007)

  • 17,000 units for the Yamaha YZF125R, of which this is the first year of production but which has already met with excellent commercial success (read)

  • 11,000 units for the Yamaha XT660 (Trail and Supermotard versions)

  • Over 20,000 units for Cityliner and X City 125 and 250cc scooters (2007)

  • Between 7 and 8000 units for quads (2007): the machines arrive from Japan and are CE approved for the road, with the addition of safety elements (headlights, indicators, horn, etc.)

  • 45 to 60,000 units depending on the year for outboard motors

    MBK employs 790 permanent employees in its Saint-Quentin plant and around 100 temporary workers depending on the season, making it the largest private employer in the department of Aisne.

    Japanese quality standards

    MBK’s activity is mainly focused on export, since the Yamaha manufactured in Saint-Quentin are delivered to Yamaha Motor Europe (export) which then resells them to its national distributors, including Yamaha Motor France (import). "We could be called Yamaha, because we are a 100% subsidiary of Yamaha Motor Group, but culturally people are very attached to MBK, formerly Motobecane", recalls Michel Pagès.

    To ensure quality requirements, regular inspections by Japanese officials take place in Saint-Quentin, as in all Yamaha factories around the world: among the eleven Japanese full-time employees in the Saint-Quentin factory, most are assigned to quality control.

    The MBK plant in Saint-Quentin thus received a rating of 4.5 (out of 5) compared to the Japanese Yamaha quality standards, which are particularly severe. Suffice to say that we are very close to the perfection so dear to the Empire of the Rising Sun !

    "This rating proves that the plant is sustainable, it removes our brakes in terms of development.", indicate the persons in charge. The Saint-Quentin plant having now proved that it could perfectly assure the manufacture of the XT660 and YZF125R to Japanese quality standards, other emblematic models could be planned soon … but it is still too early to reveal which ones. !

    • Eric MICHEL

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