India Yamaha Motor appoints Hajime Aota as Chairman

India Yamaha Motor has appointed Hajime Aota as Chairman of the Yamaha Motor India Group, effective January 1, 2026, marking a leadership transition at the Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer’s Indian operations.

The company said the appointment forms part of a planned succession at the group level, as Yamaha looks to strengthen strategic oversight in one of its most important growth markets.

Aota previously served as Executive Officer at Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and as Chief General Manager of the Corporate Strategy Center at the company’s global headquarters in Japan. In those roles, he led corporate strategy, sustainability initiatives and digital transformation efforts.

He also chaired Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley, the company’s venture capital arm, where he oversaw investments across robotics, transportation, fintech, insurtech, digital health and data-driven technologies. Aota was involved in shaping Yamaha Motor’s long-term vision for 2030, titled “Art for Human Possibilities,” and led new business development and corporate planning functions, the company said.

Commenting on his appointment, Aota said he was looking forward to leading the company in India, describing it as “one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse two-wheeler markets”. He added that Yamaha’s focus on premium products, innovation and a customer-centric approach aligns closely with the evolving aspirations of Indian consumers, particularly younger riders.

“Leading Yamaha in India is a significant responsibility,” Aota said, adding that his focus would be on strengthening the brand by combining Yamaha’s global engineering capabilities with local market needs.

Yamaha Motor entered India in 1985 as a joint venture and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. in 2001. Mitsui & Co., Ltd. later joined as a joint investor in India Yamaha Motor in 2008.

The company currently operates manufacturing facilities in Surajpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, producing motorcycles and components for both domestic sales and exports.

The appointment underscores Yamaha Motor’s intent to reinforce leadership depth in India as competition intensifies in the two-wheeler market and consumer demand shifts toward premium and technology-led offerings.