BMW India Welcomes Hardeep Singh Brar as New CEO
- Hardeep Singh Brar appointed as President and CEO of BMW Group India, effective 1 September 2025.
- Brar brings over 30 years of experience in the Indian automotive sector, previously serving as SVP at Kia India.
- Vikram Pawah transitions to CEO of BMW Group Australia and New Zealand after significantly contributing to BMW India’s growth.
BMW Group India has announced the appointment of Mr. Hardeep Singh Brar as the new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 September 2025. He will succeed Mr. Vikram Pawah, who has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading BMW Group’s operations in Australia and New Zealand as CEO.
This strategic leadership change underlines BMW Group’s commitment to strengthening its presence in India, one of the fastest-growing premium automotive markets. Mr. Jean-Philippe Parain, Senior Vice President, Region Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, BMW Group, remarked, “India is among the fastest growing markets for BMW Group and an important pillar of our long-term success strategy for the region. Mr. Hardeep Singh Brar holds vast expertise and an intricate understanding of the Indian automotive industry to lead this dynamic market and strengthen BMW Group’s operations here. We would like to thank Mr. Vikram Pawah for his immense contribution towards strategic growth of BMW Group India and playing a decisive role in its recent development”.
Mr. Brar brings with him over three decades of leadership experience in the Indian automotive industry. Prior to joining BMW Group India, he served as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Kia India. His career also includes pivotal roles in leading automotive companies such as Maruti Suzuki, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, General Motors, Nissan Motor, and Great Wall Motor Company. Mr. Brar holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Punjab, and is an alumnus of the Senior Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School.
Mr. Vikram Pawah, who has been associated with BMW Group since 2017, has led the company in India across two tenures (2017–2018 and 2020–2025) and also headed operations in Australia (2018–2020). His leadership has been instrumental in boosting BMW Group India's market presence, with a strong focus on expanding into new customer segments, enhancing the digital and retail experience, and pushing forward electric mobility initiatives.
BMW Group India operates in the premium automobile segment through its brands BMW, MINI, and BMW Motorrad. Established in 2007, BMW India is a 100% subsidiary of the BMW Group and is headquartered in Gurugram. Its operations include a manufacturing facility in Chennai, a regional distribution center in Pune, a training center in Gurugram, and a robust dealer network across major Indian cities. The Chennai plant locally produces 10 car models, while MINI and BMW Motorrad have carved strong brand identities since their respective launches in 2012 and 2017. Currently, BMW Group India operates over 80 touchpoints nationwide.
