In a significant leadership change, BMW Group India has announced the appointment of automotive industry veteran Mr. Hardeep Singh Brar as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2025. The move comes as the incumbent, Mr. Vikram Pawah, prepares to take the helm as Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group Australia and New Zealand.
The announcement signals a new chapter for the German luxury carmaker in one of its fastest-growing global markets. Mr. Brar, a well-respected figure in the Indian automotive landscape, steps into the role with over three decades of rich and varied experience across some of the biggest names in the industry.
Most recently, Mr. Brar served as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Kia India. His extensive career also includes senior management positions at Maruti-Suzuki, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, General Motors, Nissan Motor, and Great Wall Motor Company. This diverse background, spanning mass-market to premium segments, gives him an intricate understanding of the Indian market’s unique dynamics. Mr. Brar holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s Senior Executive Leadership Program.
Mr. Jean-Philippe Parain, Senior Vice President, Region Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at BMW Group, expressed his confidence in the new leadership. “India is among the fastest growing markets for BMW Group and an important pillar of our long-term success strategy for the region,” he stated. “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”.
The outgoing leader, Mr. Vikram Pawah, has had a successful tenure with the BMW Group, having joined in 2017. He has skillfully navigated the company’s operations in India for two separate terms (2017-2018 and 2020-2025) and also led the Australian market from 2018 to 2020. Under his leadership, BMW Group India sharpened its focus on expanding market share, particularly by targeting new customer segments. Pawah was instrumental in pushing the brand’s electric mobility ambitions, enhancing the digital and retail experience, and embedding a deep sense of customer-centricity in the company’s operations. Mr. Parain acknowledged his contributions, thanking him “for his immense contribution towards the strategic growth of BMW Group India and playing a decisive role in its recent development”.
BMW Group India, a 100% subsidiary of the BMW Group, has established a strong presence since it began operations in 2007. Headquartered in Gurugram, its activities include a manufacturing plant in Chennai that locally produces 10 car models, a regional distribution centre in Pune, and a network of over 80 touchpoints across the country for its BMW, MINI, and BMW Motorrad brands.