Renowned industrialist Vikram Kirloskar’s biggest identity was bringing a big global auto brand like Toyota to India. But do you know the whole story behind it, how Toyota came to India, and what kind of preparation Vikram Kirloskar had to do.
Image Credit source: toyotabharat.com
if you ever Innova come on Fortuner If you have ridden then you would know how amazing both these vehicles are. Both these vehicles in India Toyota Makes. But do you know how hard industrialist Vikram Kirloskar had to work to bring a global auto brand like Toyota to India. Today we tell you the whole story behind it…
Kirloskar Group working since 1888
Kirloskar Group, Working in manufacturing sector since 1888. In the beginning, he used to make iron plow and fodder cutting machine. Later this group started manufacturing electric goods and oil engines in 1946. Vikram Kirloskar was the fourth generation of this business family.
Vikram was passionate about engineering
Vikram Kirloskar (Vikram Kirloskar) Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT Graduate in Mechanical Engineering) studied. His passion for engineering was such that he built his entire business empire around engineering and manufacturing. Even before joining the family business, he worked as a manufacturing trainee at Kirloskar Cummins. It was his love for engineering that brought Toyota to India.
When Kirloskar spent months on the factory shop floor
The story of Toyota coming to India TVS Motor Honorary Chairman Venu Srinivasan explains something like this. In an article written for Business Standard, he says that everyone credits Vikram with bringing Toyota to India, but very few people know the story behind it.
He says – I have known Vikram for the last 40 years. He didn’t leave it to the engineers in his team to partner with Toyota. Rather spent months on the shop floor of Toyota’s factory with their general manager. He himself understood the working of every machine, noted every fine detail. He always believed that if any work has to be done, it should be done in the most correct way.
He said that Vikram was not even afraid to get his hands dirty on the shop floor. At the same time, he used to ask thousands of questions to know everything. Even though he has become a big industrialist or he has got immense wealth, but the engineer inside him always remained alive. His hard work paid off and he set up a completely new manufacturing system according to Toyota’s needs.
Toyota came to India in 1997
Vikram’s understanding and hard work paid off. In the year 1997, Kirloskar Group and Japanese auto maker Toyota formed a joint venture. Then Toyota had 51 percent stake and Kirloskar had 49 percent stake. Today Toyota holds 89 per cent stake in the company, the rest is held by the Kirloskar Group.
Toyota launched its first MPV in India in the year 2000. Toyota Quality Launched. Today, the company’s vehicles like Innova and Fortuner have their own popularity in the Indian market. There itself Suzuki together with Urban Cruiser And Gloss Like also makes models. At present, Toyota’s entire focus is on hybrid cars.
Vikram Kirloskar died on November 29 at the age of 64 due to heart attack. Now the responsibility of his business is on the shoulders of his 32 year old daughter Mansi.
English Headline : When Vikram Kirloskar spends months on Toyota factory shop floor, this is real back story of car maker coming to India.
Source: www.tv9hindi.com”