Piaggio boss Michele Colannino becomes new ACEM President

The Association of European Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) has announced its new President, as well as three new Vice Presidents. 

Michele Colannino, the Chief Executive of global strategy, product, marketing and innovation at the Piaggio Group, has been named as the new President of the ACEM. Colannino is also the founder of Piaggio Fast Forward, who makes the Gita, which is like a suitcase robot that follows its owner around.

The election of Colannino took place during the annual General Assembly of the ACEM in Brussels on 15 June 2022.

 
“I look forward to working with all members of the association to promote our priorities described in the Vision 2030+,” Colannino said after his election as ACEM President. “As part of this Vision, the European motorcycle industry will keep working to bring innovative and low-carbon vehicles to the market, for commuting, leisure and urban mobility.

“Also as part of Vision 2030+, we will intensify our dialogue with the EU institutions and we will boost industry cooperation in strategic areas for the future of mobility in Europe, such as connectivity, safety and electrification.”

Vision 2030+ is the ACEM’s sustainability drive, aimed at making transport both sustainable and accessible. Colannino’s appointment as President of the ACEM comes just after the European Parliament voted to end combustion-engined four-wheeled sales from 2035, and part of the new President’s role going forwards will be ensuring the motorcycle industry is accommodated within the EU’s plans for sustainable and emission-free transport. 

Colannino also took time after his election as President to congratulate his predecessor, Stefan Pierer, of the Pierer Mobility Group which encapsulated KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas and CFMoto. “As the new ACEM President, I would like to congratulate Stefan Pierer who has brilliantly been acting in this role for five years,” said Colannino. “I am also very thankful to my colleagues for trusting Piaggio in this prestigious and challenging role that I will carry out with the greatest commitment.”

Pierer’s time in ACEM is not done, though, as he was elected as one of three Vice Presidents who will support Colannino in his presidency. Along with Pierer, the other two VPs are Dr. Markus Schramm, the Head of BMW Motorrad, and Eric de Seynes, Yamaha Motor Europe President. 

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