Caterham Welcomes Yamaha Motor as Partner for the Project V

British sports car manufacturer Caterham has announced an exciting new partnership with Yamaha Motor, bringing the Japanese automotive giant’s expertise into the development of its upcoming electric sports coupé, Project V. Yamaha will be supplying its latest e-axle technology, a critical component in the compact, high-performance EV platform that Caterham is crafting to stay true to its DNA of lightweight, driver-focused vehicles.

The announcement marks a major step forward in Caterham’s commitment to electrifying its lineup. It comes a year after Project V’s design was first showcased at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, with an additional appearance at the Tokyo Auto Salon. With this new phase, Caterham aims to transition the concept to a road-ready prototype by mid-2025, targeting commercial production made by Italdesign soon after.

Yamaha’s e-axle technology, known for being compact and efficient, will help maintain the lightweight, performance-centric ethos of Caterham vehicles. Alongside this, Yamaha will also lend its advanced expertise in vehicle motion control, enhancing Project V’s handling to provide the sharp, thrilling driving experience that Caterham fans expect.

Project V’s prototype is being engineered by TOKYO R&D, a specialized Japanese firm with a track record of successful prototype development for major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The team at TOKYO R&D brings significant experience in high-performance EV design, and the partnership with Yamaha is expected to accelerate the vehicle’s timeline from concept to market.

Caterham, now under the ownership of VT Holdings based in Nagoya, Japan, sees this collaboration as a perfect alignment of vision and technology. By working with Yamaha, Caterham hopes to set a new standard for compact electric sports cars, combining classic simplicity with cutting-edge technology.