Hardeep Singh Brar Resigns from Kia India, Set to Lead BMW India

Hardeep Singh Brar, senior VP at Kia India, resigns and is expected to take over as the president of BMW India, following Vikram Pawah’s move to a global role. Brar’s extensive experience in the automotive industry may aid BMW’s strategy for deeper market engagement, especially in electric vehicles. The Indian auto sector is currently experiencing growth challenges, yet Kia performs well in retail sales.

Hardeep Singh Brar, who has served as senior vice president and head of marketing and sales at Kia India Pvt. Ltd., has submitted his resignation and is expected to step into the role of president at BMW India. This information has been confirmed by two sources familiar with the situation, who requested to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Brar’s resignation was communicated to Kia’s department heads last week. According to one source, Vikram Pawah, the current president of BMW India, will transition to a global position within the company. “Brar will be taking on the role soon,” stated the source.

Despite attempts to obtain comments, both BMW India and Kia India did not respond to inquiries. It has not been verified when exactly Brar will leave Kia, but one of the executives mentioned that the change is likely to occur in the coming weeks.

Bhavna Kaushik, co-founder of Abuzz Consulting, emphasized Brar’s comprehensive background in the automotive industry is a significant asset. She noted, “Hardeep’s diverse experience with key automakers such as Maruti, VW, and Kia will support BMW in expanding into deeper markets over time, particularly as the company gears up for potential product diversification into more cost-effective EV segments under expected FTA with Europe.”

Brar joined Kia in March 2021 but has a long-standing career in the automotive sphere, spanning nearly thirty years. This journey began with him working as the deputy manager of sales at Maruti Suzuki India in Chandigarh, leading to significant roles at firms like Volkswagen Group, General Motors India, Nissan Motor Corp., and Great Wall Motor Co.

As for who might succeed Brar at Kia, the details remain murky. Kia is a subsidiary of the South Korean conglomerate Hyundai Group. Meanwhile, Pawah, who took on the position of India president and CEO at BMW back in 2020, is poised to transition to a global role. Before BMW, he worked at Honda Group and Harley Davidson, and he has been with BMW since 2017.

In a recent interview with Mint, Pawah expressed his focus on growing EV sales, stating that BMW’s EV sales from January to March amounted to 646 cars, making up 17% of the total sales for the company. In the face of a slowdown in the global EV market, he acknowledged the challenges ahead, pointing out that many manufacturers had set overly ambitious goals for EV adoption.

The automotive landscape in India is currently confronting several challenges, and the industry’s growth has stagnated recently. During the financial year 2025, the car market in India grew only 2% to reach 4.3 million units. However, Kia’s retail sales increased by 7% to 241,859 units, while BMW, as the country’s second-largest luxury car maker, noted retail sales of 14,966 units in the same period. The luxury segment itself grew a mere 3%, coming in at 51,000 units in FY25.

Overall, these personnel shifts, particularly at foreign car manufacturers, arise amidst a challenging time for the Indian auto sector, reflecting the turbulent circumstances that many companies are currently navigating.

Hardeep Singh Brar’s resignation marks a significant transition at Kia India, as he is set to lead BMW India amidst a challenging automotive environment. With a robust history in the industry, Brar is expected to help BMW more deeply engage in the Indian market, particularly with electric vehicles. Meanwhile, Kia continues to see growth despite an overall slowdown in the sector. The upcoming personnel changes highlight an evolving landscape in the luxury automotive segment in India.

Original Source: www.livemint.com