Yamaha Appoints Hajime Aota as new Chairman for India business

India Yamaha Motor has announced the appointment of Hajime Aota as the new Chairman of the India business. Hajime Aota will be stepping into the new role from January 1, 2026, and is part of the brand’s leadership transition at its Indian operations. Aota brings extensive experience, having held several positions in corporate strategy, corporate planning, new venture development and more within the automotive sector across multiple markets, including the US, UK, and Japan.

Hajime Aota previously served as Executive Officer, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., and Chief General Manager – Corporate Strategy Center (CSO) at the company’s global headquarters in Japan, where he led corporate strategy, sustainability initiatives, and digital strategy, with a focus on driving digital transformation.

Commenting on his appointment, Hajime Aota, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India, said, “I am very excited to begin my journey in India, one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse two-wheeler markets. The rapidly evolving aspirations of Indian consumers, especially the youth, align strongly with Yamaha’s focus on premium products, innovation, and a customer-centric approach. Leading Yamaha in India is a significant responsibility, and my focus is on strengthening the brand by delivering products that seamlessly combine Yamaha’s global engineering excellence with the evolving needs of Indian riders. I look forward to working closely with our teams and partners to drive sustainable growth and reinforce Yamaha’s presence in this important market.”

Hajime Aota also served as Chairperson of Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley (YMVSV), Yamaha Motor’s strategic venture capital arm, overseeing early-stage investments in areas such as robotics, transportation, fintech, insurtech, digital health, and data-driven technologies. Furthermore, he played key roles in leading new business development and corporate planning functions.

A graduate in Political Science from Keio University, Japan, Hajime Aota holds a Program for Leadership Development from Harvard Business School. He was also instrumental in shaping Yamaha Motor’s 2030 long-term vision, “Art for Human Possibilities,” and continues its successful execution.

Hajime Aota’s appointment comes at a time when Yamaha is looking to expand its presence to newer segments, including the electric mobility space. The brand launched the XSR155 recently in India, and showcased the Aerox electric and EC-06 electric scooters for India. The former will have removable batteries, while the latter has been built in collaboration with Indian startup River. Both electric scooters are slated to arrive in early 2026. Yamaha is also expected to venture in the premium motorcycle space once again. The new Yamaha R3 and MT-03 are likely to arrive next year, while the brand could finally bring its premium motorcycle range.

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