Mr. BVR Subbu

Published On: 9th January, 2025

BVR Subbu completed a Masters in Economics from New Delhi’s prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University, and a Post Graduate Diploma in International Trade from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, and subsequently joined the Tata Administrative Service in 1977

He was seconded to TELCO (now TATA Motors Ltd) and held a variety of line and staff responsibilities in marketing, sales, after-sales-service, spare parts and retail finance. (1978 -1996). He is best known in the India’s Commercial Vehicle industry for conceptualizing and successfully introducing the TATA 2213, the first mass produced Heavy Commercial Vehicle, which metamorphosed the trucking industry in India, and later, as a member of a Govt of Delhi committee, helping set what has since become the de-facto standard for low-floor city buses in India.

In 1997 he was part of the team that established Hyundai Motor India, joining initially as Director (Marketing & Sales), and later taking on the role of President of the company. (1997 – 2006). BVR Subbu is globally recognized as the strategist responsible for building Hyundai Motor from an unknown name to India’s second largest car company in 6 months; from first car to millionth car in a record breaking eight years; from marginal losses to US$ 1 billion in cumulative profits in 6 years, and from a minor component exporter to 130,000 cars exports per annum and India’s largest manufactured goods exporter in five years.

He manages a boutique strategy consulting firm ‘Beyond Visual Range’, which is specialized in ‘actionable strategy’ focused primarily on the automotive, aerospace, defense and engineering industries and advises some of the world’s best known PE funds on these areas.

As an Independent Director, BVR Subbu presently serves as Chairman of the Board of MTAR Technologies Ltd. and sits on the Board of Directors of KPIT Technologies Ltd.

He has earlier served on the Board of Directors of Proton Holdings Berhad, Malaysia; Lotus Group International, UK; Larsen & Toubro (L&T – MIPC), Mumbai; International Tractors Ltd, New Delhi; Greaves Cotton Ltd, Mumbai; Ampere Vehicles Ltd Bangalore, Sona BLW Precision Forging Ltd (Sona-Comstar), Ola Electric Mobility Pvt. Ltd. and as a member of Governing Board of the Shriram Institute for Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi.

.BVR Subbu is the author of “SANTRO – The Car That Built A Company” published by Hachette India.

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