Minarelli is an Italian motorcycle engine manufacturer which was founded by Vittorio Minarelli. It is now part of the Yamaha group.

History

Minarelli was founded in Bologna

Bologna

Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...

 in 1951 as a motorcycle manufacturer. In 1956 Minarelli switched to exclusively manufacturing 2-stroke engines, in a 2000 square metre purpose-built factory. It employed 20 technical staff and produced 70 engines a day. These were sold to companies in Italy, other parts of Europe and South America.

In 1967 the company changed its name to Motori Minarelli and opened a new plant in Calderara di Reno

Calderara di Reno

Calderara di Reno is a comune in the Province of Bologna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 10 km northwest of Bologna....

. By the 1970s engine production had reached 250,000 units a year. The company also entered motorcycle racing and won a number of titles.

Yamaha

In 1990 the company began a business relationship with Yamaha. Five years later it employed 350 people and engine production had reached 450,000 units a year. In 2002, following changes in the world motorcycle market, Motori Minarelli became a member of the Yamaha Group.