Yamaha Motor India has announced a key leadership change, appointing Hajime Aota as the new Chairman of Yamaha Motor India Group, starting 1st January 2026. The decision is part of Yamaha’s planned leadership transition for its operations in India, a market seen as one of the company’s most strategic global growth engines.
Hajime Aota is a seasoned global executive with broad experience in corporate strategy, corporate planning, and new business development. Before this appointment, he served as Executive Officer and Chief General Manager of the Corporate Strategy Center (CSO) at Yamaha Motor’s headquarters in Japan, where he led strategy, sustainability, and the company’s digital transformation efforts.
Aota’s leadership experience spans several major markets, having held senior roles across Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He has been closely involved in shaping Yamaha’s long-term direction and corporate growth, bringing insights from international markets to India’s fast-evolving two-wheeler landscape.
In addition to his corporate strategy work, Aota also served as Chairperson of Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley (YMVSV), Yamaha’s strategic venture capital arm. In that role, he oversaw early-stage investments in sectors such as robotics, fintech, digital health, transport and data-driven technologies.
Commenting on his new role, Aota said he is “very excited to begin my journey in India”, recognizing the country as one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse two-wheeler markets. He emphasised Yamaha’s focus on premium quality, innovation and meeting the evolving needs of Indian riders through products that reflect global engineering excellence.
Industry observers say Aota’s appointment signals Yamaha’s heightened focus on strengthening its brand presence in India, deepening customer engagement, and aligning its product strategy with rapid market changes. This move comes as competition intensifies and Yamaha pushes ahead with both traditional and new mobility offerings.
