FIM Europe Organises First-Ever Conference On Motorcycle Sport Communication In Europe
- By MT Bureau
- February 25, 2025
FIM Europe organised the first edition of the Conference on Motorcycle Sport Communication in Europe on 22 February 2025 at Hotel Mediterraneo in Riccione with the aim to exchange and enhance experiences and methods of communication.
President Giovanni Copioli opened the day with the institutional presentations from the FIM, which were given by Damiano Zamana, FIM Deputy CEO and Operations Director; FIM Europe, which was presented by Alessandro Sambuco, FIM Europe Secretary General and FMI. Communications Managers Francesco Dragonetti from FMI, Dalila Agrati from FIM Europe and Isabelle Larivière from FIM then took the stage. The workshop offered a genuine chance to start a conversation about the needs and potential of communication professionals through talks, questions, and conversations.
The topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on motorsport communication was covered in the afternoon. Professional MXGP photographer Lorenzo Resta and Motosprint Director Federico Porrozzi conducted a photographic and journalistic examination of the prospects and threats. Experts in innovation and digital transformation, Manuel Tundis and Mattia Michelangeli, provided additional introductions and explanations of the AI issue. Attorney Alessio Santoriello, Head of the Italian Chapter of the Global LegalTech Hub, spoke on the increasing impact and use of AI in the workplace, along with its legal ramifications and issues.
Damiano Zamana, FIM Deputy CEO and Operations Director, said, "The initiative of FIM Europe to organise this first workshop goes in the direction of the FIM to be transparent and get closer to all the stakeholders within the motorcycling community. It has been a great opportunity to know better the FIM, FIM Europe and FMI on some topics that do not always reach the mainstream of communication but are fundamental for the organisation of the sport we love. Participation of important newspaper and digital communication managers shows the interest in a more transparent communication. Also, my thanks go to the representatives of the FMNs present to strengthen the communication community and the shared values of the FIM.”
Alessandro Sambuco, FIM Europe Secretary General, said, “The pressing push to deal with issues related to technological development (AI) that proceeds at an exponential speed has forced us to hold this first Conference on Motorcycling Communication in Europe. The need to deal with AI was certainly not the only need. Also, the topics of the positioning of the Motorcycling Institutions within the international sports system, the description of their governance, their characteristic activities and the communication of the various entities operating in the motorcycling world (FMNs, specialised press, teams, fairs, circuits etc.) needed to be presented and clarified. An audience of journalists and press officers representing printed, digital and social media from seven European countries marked the success of what will be just the first edition of an event that we hope will become annual.”
Giovanni Copioli, FMI President, said, “The conference was an excellent opportunity to share experiences and points of view with leading national and international players in communication. It was an appointment where FMI, FIM Europe and FIM showed their willingness to engage with journalists and press offices to contribute, all together, to the growth and development of motorcycling. I hope that in the years to come there will be other appointments of this kind because I believe they are fundamental in creating a network that helps to give visibility to our sport. I conclude by thanking the FIM and FIM Europe for organising this event in Italy and all the participants for providing excellent contributions."
Caterham Confirmed For Built in Britain Zone At London International Motor Show 2027
- By MT Bureau
- October 23, 2026
Caterham has confirmed its participation in the London International Motor Show 2027, with the British manufacturer set to appear in the event's Built in Britain zone at Excel London from 26 to 28 February 2027. The maker of the legendary Seven, produced in Britain since 1973, will display a selection of its cars on stand 1920.
Visitors will have the opportunity to examine one of the purest driving machines available anywhere, with the Seven widely regarded as a definitive British sports car thanks to its light, simple, hand-built construction in Kent and driver-focused engineering. The Built in Britain zone celebrates the designers, engineers and craftspeople sustaining the country's automotive industry, with specialist sports car makers playing a central role.
Though small in scale, these manufacturers wield enormous influence through cars whose character and focus are admired by major global firms and sought after by enthusiasts. The zone offers them a capital stage before a national audience. The show runs alongside Motorsport Expo and Car Culture UK, with one combined ticket covering all three and around 90,000 visitors expected across the weekend. Friday 26 February serves as the press and trade day, running alongside the public opening.
Stephen Maitland-Oxley, Event Director, London International Motor Show, said, “Caterham is exactly the kind of company Built in Britain was created to celebrate. The Seven is a British icon, and the team behind it has spent more than 50 years proving that lightness, ingenuity and sheer driving fun never go out of fashion. Britain's niche sports car makers are a national asset and we are delighted to give them the spotlight they deserve. Having Caterham with us is a wonderful way to set the tone for the zone.”
Trevor Steel, Senior Vice President – Operations, Caterham Cars, said, “ "At its core, the Caterham Seven is engineered to deliver a driving experience that is as pure, enjoyable and rewarding to the driver, as any car on sale today. Since its inception by Colin Chapman nearly 70 years ago, and since becoming a Caterham in 1973, the Seven has always been proudly built here in Britain, and this is heritage we’re always wishing to celebrate. Built in Britain is a natural home for us, and we are looking forward to meeting enthusiasts, owners and a new generation of drivers in London next February.”
GP Petroleums Appoints Shirish Suvagia As Chief Financial Officer
- By MT Bureau
- October 23, 2026
GP Petroleums has appointed Shirish Suvagia as its new Chief Financial Officer and Key Managerial Personnel, effective 15 October 2026.
Suvagia is a Chartered Accountant with over 23 years of experience in corporate finance, treasury, strategic planning, mergers & acquisitions, and debt and equity fundraising.
He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Commerce from the University of Mumbai, an Executive MBA from IIM Indore, a CISA certification from ISACA, and an IFRS certification from the ICAI.
In his role as CFO, Suvagia will manage the company's financial strategy, treasury, business planning, capital allocation, risk management and reporting functions as GP Petroleums expands its IPOL lubricants brand across domestic and international markets.
Ayush Goel, Chairman & Managing Director of GP Petroleums, said, "We are delighted to welcome Suvagia to GP Petroleums. His experience across corporate finance, treasury, fundraising and mergers & acquisitions will be a valuable asset to the Company, particularly as we focus on capital allocation, business expansion and long-term value creation. We look forward to his contribution as we take the company forward. We are confident that his leadership and financial expertise will support the Company in creating sustainable value for all stakeholders."
"I am excited to join GP Petroleums at an important stage of its growth journey. IPOL is a well-established and respected brand with strong market fundamentals and significant opportunities ahead. I look forward to partnering with the Board and leadership team to further strengthen the Company's financial capabilities, support strategic growth initiatives, and drive long-term value creation for stakeholders," said Suvagia.
SAEINDIA to Host Asia Pacific Automotive Engineering Conference In New Delhi
- By MT Bureau
- October 23, 2026
SAEINDIA is set to host the 23rd Asia Pacific Automotive Engineering Conference (APAC 23) from 13 to 14 November 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi.
The event, held under the theme ‘Xellerating towards Safe, Secure, Sustainable & Intelligent Mobility,’ returns to India for the second time following a 15-year interval. The conference will convene more than 1,000 delegates and 500 mobility experts representing vehicle manufacturers, component suppliers, technology firms, research organisations and regulatory bodies across 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The agenda comprises 150 technical presentations and 80 exhibitors covering subject areas such as powertrains, automated driving, cybersecurity, software-defined vehicles, vehicle dynamics, advanced materials and regulatory standards.
The venue features an exposition hall, a technology theatre for product demonstrations, and the TechHive platform designed to connect mobility start-up ventures with industry leaders, technology experts, and investors.
“APAC 23 represents an important opportunity for India to engage with the Asia-Pacific mobility engineering community at a time when our industry is undergoing fundamental transformation. By bringing together industry, academia, researchers, innovators and policymakers, we aim to create meaningful conversations and collaborations that can contribute to safer, smarter and more sustainable mobility,” said Saurabh Dalela, President of SAEINDIA.
Anoop Bhat, Co-Convenor, APAC 23, said, “The scale and diversity of APAC 23 have been designed to create an environment where engineering knowledge, technology innovation and business opportunities come together. From technical presentations and the exposition to TechHive and the Technology Theatre, participants will have multiple opportunities to discover technologies, exchange ideas and build collaborations across the mobility ecosystem.”
Bosch Reorganises German Operations And Mobility Division Into Separate Subsidiaries
- By MT Bureau
- October 23, 2026
Global technology company Bosch has announced a restructuring of its corporate framework in Germany, transferring the activities of its Mobility business sector and central service units into legal entities.
Under the plan, the Mobility division alongside Bosch Digital, Global Business Services and Global Real Estate will operate as wholly-owned limited liability subsidiaries within the Bosch Group from 1 August 2027.
The transition aligns the Mobility sector with the structure already utilised across the group's Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology divisions. Following the reorganisation, Robert Bosch GmbH will function primarily as corporate headquarters and central research operations, with approximately 62,500 associate employment contracts in Germany transferring to the subsidiaries.
The Mobility division remains the largest business unit within the group, generating EUR 55.8 billion in sales revenue in 2025, accounting for 60 percent of group sales.
Dr. Christian Fischer, Chairman of the Board of Management, Robert Bosch GmbH, said, "We are operating in an increasingly challenging environment across our markets. New competitors, particularly from Asia, are intensifying the competitive pressure. For us at Bosch the implication is that we need to bring innovations to market even faster, substantially simplify structures and processes, and accelerate our overall pace to keep up. The goal is to sustainably increase the profitability of the Bosch Group as a whole so that we can continue to fund technological breakthroughs from our internal resources. With the planned reorganisation of our corporate structure, we are creating the conditions that will allow each operating unit to unfold its full potential – with greater entrepreneurial freedom, short decision-making paths, and closer customer focus. It will also mean that our internal service units can contribute more significantly to the performance of our operating units, offering competitive and first-class services. One thing is clear: all legal entities will remain an integral part of the Bosch Group, irrespective of their new legal form."
Dr. Markus Heyn, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Management, Robert Bosch GmbH and Chairman of the Mobility business sector, said, "We’re starting from a position of strength. But to defend our lead in the long term, we must consistently realign with new customer requirements, markets, and the competition. Going forward, we’ll be able to take an even more customer-centric approach, act more powerfully as one team, and shape change faster in one of the world’s most demanding industries. Our ambition is to continue setting the pace for the automotive industry. That requires speed, clarity, and business resolve – and we have all three."

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