Mohan Kumar is fiercely protective of his employees and their future. Not just because they are battling turbulent times as global sales plummet in a struggling automotive industry, but because he knows their commitment will eventually pay off. Just as it did for him.
As the first Indian executive promoted to Managing Director of Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts (TKAP), Mohan is proof that a journey with Toyota is definitely a ride to success. He joined the company in 1998, just months after the car manufacturer launched in India, partnering with engineering conglomerate Kirloskar Group.
“We were a complete greenfield team; few experienced guys were actually hired,” he explains. “Our people are advanced from within to be able to handle any function or requirement, not only for today but also for the future. My predecessors invested time and energy in mentoring and developing skills and I was lucky to be able to take advantage of that internal growth opportunity.
“All of us working now in this division of automotive parts have primarily grown with the company. ‘Grow together’ has been our motto and it’s now my responsibility to develop successors to continue this legacy forward.”
Based in Bidadi near Bangalore, TKAP manufactures axles, shafts, transmissions and engines to supply to local and global Toyota companies. The company, established in 2002, is a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), Aisin Seiki and Kirloskar Systems.
“We primarily manufacture the drivetrain; that’s the engine transmission, propeller shaft, and axle, the parts that entirely drive the car,” he explains. “The car is assembled at Toyota Kirloskar Motors before being sent to the customer. We are probably the only automotive business in India where the manufacture of the drivetrain is a separate entity to that of the vehicle. This also gives us the opportunity for export.”
This story is from the February/March 2020 edition of The CEO Magazine India.
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This story is from the February/March 2020 edition of The CEO Magazine India.
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