Till Scheer, CEO of Volkswagen Korea, has been elected as the 17th chairman of the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA).
KAIDA announced on the 26th that it held its general meeting at The Westin Josun Hotel and elected Scheer as the new chairman. Chairman Scheer will serve his third consecutive term, having held the position since the 15th chairmanship, and will lead the association for the next two years.
Chairman Scheer built his career in the automotive sector across European and Asian markets including Hong Kong, China, and Japan, and previously served as chairman of the Japan Automobile Importers Association. He was appointed as Group President of Volkswagen Group Korea in 2021.
The general meeting also confirmed the reappointment of board members including Mathias Vaitl, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea; Bang Sil, CEO of Stellantis Korea; Manabu Konyama, CEO of Toyota Motor Korea; and Han Sang-yun, CEO of BMW Group Korea.
The association explained that during Chairman Scheer's tenure, it has focused on communication and cooperation with the government and related domestic and international organizations in response to rapid technological advances and regulatory changes accompanying the market shift toward eco-friendly and future vehicles. The association has regularized policy seminars, strengthened English translation services for complex regulations, and expanded its information-sharing functions through MOUs with government agencies and the establishment of industry databases. The association added that last year, marking its 30th anniversary, it achieved 300,000 new passenger car registrations, with electric vehicles accounting for 29.7% and hybrids 56.7% of annual new passenger car registrations, contributing to policies promoting low- and zero-emission vehicle adoption.
Chairman Scheer said, "I will further strengthen external cooperation and communication while promoting the development, innovation, and diversification of Korea's automotive industry."