May 29, 2012: S Sandilya, president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), has been unanimously voted and elected as the president of International Motorcycle Manufacturers Association, Geneva (IMMA) for a two-year period from 2012 to 2014.

Mr Sandilya was elected during IMMA’s recent general assembly held on May 23 at Madrid. IMMA represents two-wheeler manufacturers worldwide including Australia, Canada, Japan, India, China, USA, Europe (including Spain, Italy, UK) and South East Asia (including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan) together producing about 50 million motorcycles every year. The prestigious appointment is a first in the Indian automotive industry. The Indian two-wheeler industry is at present the second largest producer of two-wheelers in the world, after China.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Sandilya said: “With the increased need of urban mobility across all regions of the world, the two-wheeler industry would continue to offer optimum solution for commuters and IMMA strives to reduce the environmental impact made by powered two-wheelers and improve all aspects of their technical safety.”

IMMA works closely with legislators and consumers and communicates with international establishments such as United Nations UNECE WP.29, (Working Party for Construction of Vehicles), UN Working Party on General Road Traffic Safety (WP.1), WTO, APEC, ISO, and European Commission among others.