RIDING IN Top Gear

On the hot seat for this edition, we have business scions Padma Shri Arun Firodia and his son Ajinkya Firodia of the pioneering Kinetic Group, that has touched the lives of millions of Indians. Marking its completion of 50 years in the automotive industry, MARWAR presents a slice of its legacy, the journey of five decades and its contribution to the industry.

- Rachna Virdi

This is the story of a legendary father and his son from the Indian automotive manufacturing company that was launched with the vision to provide affordable transportation in India. Presenting Arun Firodia, who serves as the Chairman of Firodia Group of companies, the leading manufacturer and exporter of two-wheelers in India with an annual turnover of $500 million! A pioneer in putting affordable mobility within the reach of the Indian population, he brought convenience and refinement to scootering by giving a modernday shape, scale and scope to the Indian two-wheeler industry. His son Ajinkya Firodia, MD of Kinetic Engineering Limited, the flagship company, has added a new twist to the automotive industry with a business acumen and perspective that will have you in awe.

Beginning of a journey

The Kinetic Group was founded in 1972 by Shri HK Firodia, also called the 'Doyen of Automobile Industry' and God's own man. His son Arun Hastimal Firodia obtained B.Tech with distinction in Electrical Engineering from IIT Mumbai in 1965, before heading to the United States to complete his MS from MIT and MBA from Sloan School of Management. He joined his father's automotive manufacturing company as the second generation entrepreneur. Its flagship company, Kinetic Engineering Limited, began its journey in 1974 with the launch of India's first moped Kinetic Luna, a groundbreaking vehicle that became an instant hit as 'Chal Meri Luna'. "This was our idea of 'Service to the Nation' which surely was a precursor to Atmanirbhar Bharat as it was a 100 per cent locally made vehicle for India. From manufacturing Luna to creating world records with the Kinetic Honda, Kinetic Engineering never stopped innovating timeless products to contribute to its legacy," says Arun Firodia, Chairman, Kinetic Group.