Japan's Honda Motor and Yamaha Motor said they would hold a joint news conference at on Wednesday concerning their motorcycle businesses. The Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday that the two companies - fierce rivals in the global motorcycle business - would join forces in the production and development of two-wheelers as a sharp decline in their home market takes a toll.

Yamaha will shift its production in Taiwan of 50cc scooters sold in Japan to Honda's Kumamoto factory in southern Japan, the Nikkei said.