India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. has announced the appointment of Hajime Aota as the new Chairman of the Yamaha Motor India Group. His appointment will come into effect from January 1, 2026. The decision is part of a planned leadership change at the Japanese two-wheeler maker’s Indian operations.
Hajime Aota brings wide global experience in corporate planning, strategy, sustainability, and digital transformation. Before this role, he served as an Executive Officer at Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and was also the Chief General Manager of the Corporate Strategy Center at Yamaha’s global headquarters in Japan. In this position, he played a key role in shaping long-term business plans and guiding the company’s digital and sustainability goals.
Aota has also led Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley, which is the company’s venture capital and innovation arm. As chairman, he oversaw investments in new-age sectors such as robotics, transportation technology, fintech, insurtech, digital health, and data-driven solutions. His work supported Yamaha’s efforts to explore future-focused businesses beyond traditional mobility.
He was closely involved in developing Yamaha Motor’s long-term vision for 2030, titled “Art for Human Possibilities.” This vision focuses on innovation, human-centered design, and expanding Yamaha’s role in society. Along with this, Aota has contributed to new business development and corporate planning initiatives across global markets.
In terms of education, Hajime Aota has completed the Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School. He also holds a degree in Political Science from Keio University in Japan.
Sharing his thoughts on the new role, Aota said he is excited to begin his journey in India, which he described as one of the most dynamic and fast-growing two-wheeler markets in the world. He highlighted that the changing aspirations of Indian consumers, especially young riders, match Yamaha’s focus on premium products, innovation, and a strong customer-first approach. He added that his goal is to strengthen the Yamaha brand in India by blending global engineering excellence with local market needs, while driving sustainable growth.
Yamaha Motor entered India in 1985 through a joint venture and became a wholly owned subsidiary in 2001. Mitsui & Co., Ltd. later joined as a joint investor in 2008. Yamaha currently operates manufacturing plants in Surajpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, producing motorcycles and components for both Indian and global markets.
