Yamaha Motor Co. Leaving Longtime Cypress Headquarters for Georgia

The company has been moving divisions slowly to Georgia and expects to complete the shift by the end of 2028.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Yamaha Motor Corp. USA, which has been headquartered in Cypress, California for nearly 50 years, is moving its headquarters to Kennesaw, Georgia where it has been relocating divisions for years. The move is part of Yamaha's 'structural reforms' aimed at improving profitability in response to cost increases from tariffs and changes in the market environment. The departure will be completed by the end of 2028 and affect around 250 workers at the Cypress facility.

Why it matters

Yamaha's exit from California is the latest in a series of corporate departures from the state, with companies citing factors like lower labor costs and taxes as reasons for relocating. This move will impact the local Cypress business community that Yamaha has been a part of for over 40 years.

The details

Yamaha's motorsports and marine businesses have already relocated to Georgia in recent years, and the company says consolidating all functions in one location in Georgia will improve efficiency. The Cypress headquarters includes administrative, corporate, and financial services for Yamaha's motorsports operations, but no manufacturing. Yamaha has tapped commercial brokerage firm Avison Young to market the 25-acre Cypress campus, which includes 278,964 square feet of industrial, flex-warehouse, and office space.

  • Yamaha's motorsports business relocated to Georgia in 2019.
  • Yamaha's marine business relocated to Georgia in 1999.
  • Yamaha expects to complete the full headquarters relocation to Georgia by the end of 2028.

The players

Yamaha Motor Corp. USA

The U.S. subsidiary of the Japanese motorcycle and marine engine manufacturer Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd., which has been headquartered in Cypress, California for nearly 50 years.

Bob Starr

Spokesman for Yamaha Motor Corp. USA.

Alicia Velasco

Director of planning and community development for the city of Cypress.

Yamaha Corp. of America

The Buena Park-based subsidiary of Yamaha that makes musical instruments and sound gear, which is unaffected by the headquarters relocation.

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What they’re saying

“In terms of efficiency, to have us all together in Georgia, all the functions of the business, it makes a lot of sense.”

— Bob Starr, Spokesman (ocregister.com)

“The city of Cypress regrets Yamaha's decision to relocate its headquarters to Georgia. As one of the first companies to locate in the Cypress Business Park in 1980, Yamaha has been an important part of our business community for more than 40 years. We thank Yamaha for its long-standing partnership with the City and look forward to working with its management to transition to new ownership.”

— Alicia Velasco, Director of planning and community development (ocregister.com)

What’s next

Yamaha has tapped commercial brokerage firm Avison Young to market the 25-acre Cypress campus for sale, which includes 278,964 square feet of industrial, flex-warehouse, and office space.

The takeaway

Yamaha's departure from its longtime Cypress headquarters is the latest in a series of corporate exits from California, with companies citing factors like lower costs and taxes as reasons for relocating. This move will impact the local Cypress business community that Yamaha has been a part of for over 40 years, but the company says consolidating operations in Georgia will improve efficiency.