KAMA chief to head global carmakers' body

By Park Jin-hai

Kim Yong-geun

The International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) will hold a general assembly in Korea and appoint the head of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA) as its chief.

The three-day gathering will take place at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul from Oct. 22, KAMA said.

Some 50 auto industry heavy weights from 22 countries including Patrick Blain, OICA chief and chairman of the French Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (CCFA); and Matthias Wissmann, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), will attend the meeting.

During the general assembly, members will elect Kim Yong-geun, president of KAMA, as the new head of the OICA to succeed outgoing chairman Blain.

Kim will be the first Korean to take the top job.

“The general assembly taking place in Seoul proves Korean auto industry’s standing in the global arena,” said an official of the OICA secretariat in a statement.

“It will be an important forum where the global auto industry’s pending issues and prospects as well as market analysis and policies on environmentally friendly cars will be discussed.”

Members will hold a board meeting and discuss authorization of new members and auto shows on its opening day. On the following day, a round table and general assembly will take place, where the election of the new chairman will be announced.

The OICA is a federation of automobile manufacturers, based-in Paris. It currently has 38 members ― Korea is one of the eight permanent board members.