YAMAHA MOTOR ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF FIRST HEALTH SUPPLEMENT "ASTIVO" contains high-grade astaxanthin produced domestically

Shizuoka, April 17, 2007 - Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. ("the Company") will announce the launch of its "ASTIVO" astaxanthin health supplement on Thursday, April 19, 2007. This marks the first occasion that Yamaha Motor markets health supplement products to general consumers. The launch of "ASTIVO" follows that of the "PURESTA" astaxanthin extract sold exclusively to manufacturing companies from October 2006. A bottle containing 60 capsules (approximately a month's supply) will be sold for 5,000 yen including consumption tax and postage. Customers will be able to purchase the product by telephone, fax, mail or via the Internet (www.astivo.jp)*.

By offering "ASTIVO" to the general public, Yamaha Motor aims to diffuse astaxanthin in the supplement market, as well as support astaxanthin-related business ventures as a raw material manufacturer. Further, the Company strives to realize its corporate mission of "providing the people of the world with a rich and prosperous life full of new experiences that will touch your heart."

The "ASTIVO" contains high-quality "PURESTA" astaxanthin, which is derived from the Haematococcus algae. This raw material for "PURESTA" is being produced in a clean room in accordance with stringent quality control procedures designed to meet Japan's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines for health supplements. "ASTIVO" capsules (280 mg each) are small and soft, making them easy to ingest. Each contains 3mg of astaxanthin. The recommended daily dosage is two capsules, for a total of 6mg of astaxanthin.

"ASTIVO" supplements were developed to provide assistance to people leading highly active lifestyles. The products are particularly recommended for health-conscious individuals who have a range of hobbies and wish to lead even richer and more fulfilling lives. The packaging has been designed taking into account the needs of active individuals--the supplements come in a compact and portable, user-friendly bottle featuring a simple yet stylish design.

* Information is currently available in Japanese only

"ASTIVO" Astaxanthin Health Supplement Backgrounder

Product summary:

* Per 280 mg capsule

Product sales:

"ASTIVO" will be available for purchase by telephone, fax, mail, internet or mail order, from April 19, 2007. *

* Information is currently available in Japanese only

Product features:

• The product is made using only "PURESTA", a high-quality, high-concentration astaxanthin extract produced by Yamaha Motor in Japan using an integrated process corresponding to stringent quality and production control procedures.

• The soft capsules (280 mg each) are small, making them easy to ingest, and the packaging is compact and well-designed.

• Each capsule contains 3 mg of astaxanthin. The recommended daily dosage of two capsules therefore contains 6 mg of astaxanthin.

Yamaha Motor's Life Science Business:

Focus of the Life Science Business--Core CO2 absorption technologies

Yamaha Motor has over the years conducted engineering-related research with the aim of reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming and other environmental issues. Specifically, the Company has worked to develop engines with reduced carbon dioxide emissions, enhance fuel efficiency and develop electric vehicles and fuel cells. Yamaha Motor has also worked to develop carbon dioxide absorption technologies using microalgal photosynthesis. As part of such efforts to absorb carbon dioxide more effectively, the Company has successfully developed the following: (1) an advanced technology for microalgae screening and selective breeding, (2) acqueous environment control technology to optimize the composition of the culture medium and (3) a photosynthesizing device that cultures microalgae efficiently, in high density, on a large scale. The integration of these three key technologies is the basis of the Company's current Life Science Business.

Pillar of the Life Science Business--Yamaha High-efficiency Bio Reactor

During the research and development process, the Company focused on astaxanthin--the natural red pigment produced by photosynthesis of the Haematococcus algae, a type of microalgae. Yamaha Motor researched the nutritional properties of the component astaxanthin, which is found in abundance in salmon and crab, and successfully developed the Yamaha High-Efficiency Bio Reactor--a system that allows a large volume of microalgae to be cultured.
The Bio Reactor is a microalgae culture system developed in-house. It is plate-shaped, measuring approximately two meters in height by nine meters in length, and its interior is filled with a culture medium, on which a large mass of Haematococcus algae floats. It enables highly efficient photosynthesis by irradiating artificial light from the Bio Reactor on to the Haematococcus algae and providing an optimized culture medium. Although outdoor sunlight was previously used to irradiate the algae culture, the Yamaha High-Efficiency Bio Reactor, an indoor device, provides the optimum amount of light in any season or weather. The end result is consistent production of a high-concentration (8%) of algae biomass at a high level of efficiency.

The Life Science Business' full-fledged start of operations--Completion of the raw materials plant and start of supplying raw materials

Following the successful culture of a large volume of high-concentration Haematococcus algae at a high level of efficiency, an astaxanthin raw material plant was established in October 2006 at Kuno Industrial Park in Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and the Company began supplying PURESTA Oil astaxanthin extract to supplement and food manufacturers. This plant is equipped with culturing equipment, chiefly the Yamaha High-Efficiency Bio Reactor, which employs the latest technology. The plant allows the safe and stable production of raw materials for astaxanthin owing to production control procedures designed to meet Japan's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines for health supplements, as well as the stringent quality control including a clean room, which eliminates all risk of contamination of the culture from external factors.
PURESTA Oil astaxanthin extract was produced as a result of such culture technologies in Japan as well as production and quality control. The Company's Life Science Business began full-fledged operations in December last year when supply of a water-soluble product was initiated. Life Science Business sales are expected to total one billion yen in the first year of operations and 30 billion yen in 2015.