Yamaha discontinues R3 and MT-03 in India ahead of updated models
Yamaha has quietly withdrawn the YZF-R3 and MT-03 from the Indian market, bringing an early end to the current-generation models. The brand has stopped importing both motorcycles and dealerships across major cities have confirmed that their inventories have now been fully exhausted.
The two models were sold as CBU imports, which positioned them at the premium end of the middleweight segment. Their initial pricing – Rs. 4.65 lakhs for the R3 and Rs. 4.60 lakhs for the MT-03 – placed them notably higher than rivals assembled locally. The steep pricing structure translated into limited demand, and sales numbers remained modest throughout their sale period.
In an attempt to revive interest, Yamaha issued a substantial price reduction of Rs. 1.10 lakh earlier this year, followed by an additional Rs. 20,000 cut after GST revisions. Even with the revised figures, the models were unable to achieve the expected traction, prompting their discontinuation.
With the exit of the R3 and MT-03, Yamaha’s performance lineup below 400cc now consists of the R15, MT-15 and the recently introduced XSR155. However, this exit is not expected to be permanent. Yamaha is preparing to introduce the next-generation R3 and MT-03 in India, with a launch window anticipated around mid-2026. The new R3 will bring updated styling and a more modern feature set, while the MT-03 is also expected to receive revisions aligned with international markets.
Until the next-generation models arrive, buyers interested in Yamaha’s mid-capacity offerings will need to wait as the company revisits its strategy for this segment.
