Mr. Eric de Seynes (President 2023-2025) and Mr. Rakesh Sharma (President 2020-2023)
The IMMA Spring Congress was held from 27 to 30 March 2023 as the first significant event gathering IMMA members since 2020. Taking place in New Delhi, India, this edition marked the 75th Anniversary of IMMA, founded in 1948 as the Bureau Permanent International de Constructeurs de Motocycles (BPICM).
During the General Assembly, a new IMMA leadership for 2023 – 2025 was elected: Mr. Eric de Seynes, nominated by ACEM, was appointed President, and Mr. Johannes Loman, nominated by FAMI, was elected Vice President. Mr. De Seynes currently holds the positions of Senior Executive Officer of Yamaha Motor Company Ltd., President and CEO of Yamaha Motor Europe N.V., and Vice President of ACEM. Mr. Loman holds the position of Director at PT Astra International Tbk Indonesia and President of IMMA-member associations FAMI and AISI.
After his election, Mr. De Seynes pledged to advance safe and sustainable motorcycling through education, innovation, and cooperation.
“Thank you for your confidence in electing me today. I am fully committed to the task and look forward to working with the members and with the secretary general, defending and promoting the industry and motorcycling”, said Mr. De Seynes.
Mr. De Seynes inherited his father’s passion for motorcycles at a very young age. He started competing in motorbike racing in 1974 and took part in the Paris-Dakar in 1982. In 2016, and after holding several leadership positions in the motorcycle industry, Mr. De Seynes was appointed Group Executive Officer of Yamaha Motor Company Ltd., before becoming President and CEO of Yamaha Motor Europe, a position that had never been held before by a non-Japanese executive. As Vice President of ACEM, the newly elected president was familiar with the activities of IMMA.
Mr. De Seynes takes over the IMMA presidency from Mr. Rakesh Sharma, who holds the position of Executive Director at Bajaj Auto, a leading motorcycle manufacturer, and member of the Executive Committee and the Chairman of the Exports Council of SIAM, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, an IMMA member.
In his farewell speech to the membership, along with congratulating Mr. De Seynes on his new role, Mr. Sharma recognized the work of IMMA during its 75-year-history.
“IMMA Secretariat has continued its successful collaboration with the WP.29 World Forum to facilitate the fitment of cutting-edge technologies for safety and environmental performance at a Global level, to remove trade barriers and enable fair, free and open competition”, said Mr. Sharma.
Mr. Johannes Loman, elected Vice President, could not join the event in person in New Delhi. He is well known to IMMA members considering his previous role as Vice President of IMMA from 2017-2018 and President of IMMA from 2018-2020.
About ACEM:
The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) engages in dialogue with European, national and local authorities, and key stakeholders to advance the understanding of industry positions on relevant policy issues, including, among others, industry competitiveness, road safety, and mobility and sustainability policies. ACEM advocates for policies that support the competitiveness of motorcycle manufacturers, provides factual information about the European motorcycle sector, and fosters a better understanding of the motorcycle industry’s contribution to society. ACEM federates the motorcycle industry in Europe and is a member of IMMA.
About SIAM:
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is an IMMA member and apex national body representing all major vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India. SIAM works towards supporting the sustainable development of the Indian automobile industry with the vision that India emerges as the destination of choice in the world for design and manufacture of automobiles. It also works towards facilitating the enhancement of the competitiveness of the Indian automobile industry, reducing the cost of vehicles, increasing productivity and achieving global standards of quality.
About FAMI:
The Federation of Asian Motorcycle Industries (FAMI) is an IMMA member that represents the manufacturing industry, federating 7 key manufacturing countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, and Vietnam. Together these countries account for an annual production of approximately 15 million motorcycles. FAMI constantly promotes activities through consultation, coordination and cooperation initiatives with regard to motorcycle industry within the region.
About IMMA:
IMMA, as the voice of the global Motorcycle Industry, has a membership of Powered Two- and Three-Wheeler (PTW) manufacturers’ associations from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam. IMMA promotes solutions for safe, sustainable, socially responsible and economically viable motorcycling. IMMA advances inclusive policies and engages in the development and progressive harmonization of vehicle requirements in global forums. IMMA is based in Geneva, Switzerland.