India's Automotive Might is Built on the Work of Visionary Leaders
The automotive sector is a major pillar of the Indian economy. It contributes nearly 13 percent of India’s GDP and is a key contributor to the country’s today manufacturing GDP. The automotive workforce is also a key chunk of India’s employed population and has increase almost 22 percent between 2023 and 2024.
The burgeoning industry rests on the able shoulders of business leaders who lead with vision and knowledge. Understanding the pulse of the industry and aligning with impending market trends, these automotive experts help propel their respective companies ahead while also powering the growth of India’s automotive sector.
In the current edition of CEOInsights India magazine, we meet a few such leaders. They share with us their professional journeys, key areas of expertise and advice for automotive professionals.
One of the featured leaders is B S Rao, Director of Operations, Novares India Automotive. He has 30 years of experience driving growth across India, Europe, UK, and Brazil. His leadership focuses on trust, long-term vision, and continuous transformation, keeping Novares at the forefront of the automotive industry.
Talking about advice for aspiring automotive professionals, he says, “I strongly advise the team to adopt a long-term perspective and focus on strategic growth rather than short-term rewards. Nowadays, many tend to focus on immediate results, such as monthly remunerations, which is a short-sighted approach. It's important to create and follow a long-term growth strategy, staying committed to it without getting distracted by temporary gains. This mindset has worked for me, and I believe it’s essential for sustainable success and development in both personal and professional growth.”
In this special edition we also feature the thoughts of Thushar KS. With nearly three decades in the automotive sector, Thushar KS is a seasoned leader known for business model innovation and technology driven transformation, and now drives MotoXchange Solutions as its Co-Founder and CEO.
He shares sound advice from his own experiences and says, “I believe leadership in the mobility and automotive sectors demands clarity, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to continuous learning. My experience has taught me that strong domain expertise is essential because it shapes sound decisions and builds credibility. Integrity and transparent communication create the trust that sustains long-term success. I see technology as a strategic enabler and encourage leaders to adopt it proactively.”
To know more such nuggets of wisdom, read the in-depth interviews featuring automotive leaders from India.
Let us know your thoughts.