Dwayne Bates promoted to president; René Ocegueda to vice president

AISIN Corporation announced today that Dwayne Bates was named president and René Ocegueda was named vice president of AISIN Aftermarket & Service of America, Inc. (AASA). The new AISIN company was established April 1, 2025, with the merger of the aftermarket division of AISIN World Corp. of America (AWA) and AWTEC, an AISIN Group company specializing in transmission remanufacturing.

As an integral part of the AISIN Global Aftermarket Group, AASA covers parts sales and distribution for the Americas. The new business entity will operate as a stand-alone company focused on both aftermarket sales business and growing remanufactured product business, according to Scott Turpin, president and COO, AWA, who made the announcement.

Previously senior vice president of AISIN’s Aftermarket division in North America, Bates will lead AASA in its continued growth and global expansion efforts. He joined AISIN 35 years ago and today oversees aftermarket sales, remanufacturing and warehousing operations at AISIN facilities in California, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas and Panama. He also holds a president and Board of Directors position with AISIN Sales Latin America (ASLA). Bates earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in business administration from Wayne State University in Detroit. He and his wife, Amy, reside in the Nashville, Tennessee, area, have four adult children and are proud grandparents of four grandchildren.

As vice president of AASA, Ocegueda will lead AISIN’s Latin America business, and will relocate in May from Los Angeles to Panama, to oversee ASLA operations. Ocegueda joined AISIN 27 years ago and, as general manager, was instrumental in the establishment of ASLA in 2019, which launched a new distribution center to shorten product delivery lead time, improve customer service and help strengthen the automotive aftermarket in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Ocegueda earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Guadalajara in Mexico. He and his wife, Maria Guadalupe, have three adult children.

 [BP1]This is confusing. When was he general manager? What was he general manager of?