Big Reshuffle at Mahindra: Engine Wizard to Now Head Car Business!
Mahindra & Mahindra has announced a significant leadership reshuffle across its core businesses. R Velusamy, previously President of Automotive Technology and Product Development, has been elevated to President of the Automotive Business, where he will now oversee the company’s entire vehicle portfolio, including both the SUV and light commercial vehicle (LCV) segments.
Veejay Nakra, who was serving as President of the Automotive Division, will move to head the Farm Equipment Business as President, while Hemant Sikka, formerly President of the Farm Equipment Sector, has been appointed Managing Director and CEO of Mahindra Logistics. All three leaders will report to Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director and CEO of the Auto and Farm Sector at Mahindra & Mahindra.
From Tamil Nadu to Austria: The Making of an Engine Maestro
Velusamy’s roots are humble. After completing his studies in mechanical engineering, he joined Mahindra in 1996, barely out of college. Almost immediately, the company recognised his potential and sent him to Austria—then the mecca of diesel engine technology—for an intensive assignment at AVL, a world-renowned engine development firm. At the time, Mahindra’s own diesel engines lagged behind rivals, and the company needed a leap forward to compete with the likes of Tata and Hyundai.
This Austrian stint was transformative. Velusamy absorbed the latest in engine design, manufacturing, and testing. He returned to India with a clear mission: to create a world-class diesel engine for Mahindra’s next generation of vehicles.
The mHawk Revolution and the Rise of Scorpio
Back in India, Velusamy led the development of the now-iconic mHawk diesel engine. This high-speed, lightweight, aluminium-head engine was a game-changer. It not only met stringent emission norms but also delivered a quantum leap in performance, refinement, and efficiency. The mHawk’s debut in the Mahindra Scorpio gave the SUV a decisive edge over its arch-rival, the Tata Safari, and set a new benchmark in India’s SUV segment. The Scorpio’s success story is, in many ways, Velusamy’s own—a testament to technical ingenuity and a refusal to settle for second-best.
Driving Mahindra’s Product Renaissance
Velusamy’s influence soon extended beyond engines. As head of R&D, he championed a new approach to vehicle development, blending simulation and physical testing to achieve world-class standards in durability, dynamics, crash safety, and NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness). His fingerprints are on every major Mahindra launch of the past decade: the rugged new Thar, the sophisticated XUV700, the Scorpio-N, and the innovative Thar Roxx. Under his leadership, Mahindra’s vehicles began to consistently score high in safety ratings and win accolades for their design and engineering.
When Mahindra risked losing ground to Tata, Hyundai, and other global players, Velusamy’s team responded with products that not only matched but often exceeded the competition in technology and value. The XUV700, for instance, was benchmarked against premium international models, yet delivered at a fraction of the cost—a move that won over critics and customers alike.
Electric Ambitions and the Next Frontier
Not content with just internal combustion engines, Velusamy has also been the driving force behind Mahindra’s electric vehicle (EV) push. He spearheaded the development of the INGLO EV platform, which underpins the upcoming BE6 and XUV.e9 models—vehicles designed to take Mahindra into the future of sustainable mobility. His global perspective, honed by years of international collaboration and benchmarking, ensures that Mahindra’s EVs are not just competitive in India, but ready for global markets.
A New Era: Full Control of the Car Business
The recent reshuffle places Velusamy at the helm of the entire automotive business, integrating both SUV and light commercial vehicle operations under his leadership. This move is designed to create greater agility and synergy across product engineering and market execution. Velusamy now has end-to-end responsibility for Mahindra’s vehicle portfolio, including profit and loss accountability—a recognition of his proven track record and the trust he commands within the organisation.
Meanwhile, Veejay Nakra, who played a key role in Mahindra’s recent automotive turnaround, moves to lead the high-performing Farm Equipment Business, and Hemant Sikka transitions to Mahindra Logistics. The leadership changes, according to Mahindra, are about placing “strong, proven leaders at the helm of our key businesses” to drive growth and create value for customers and shareholders.
Legacy and Leadership
Velusamy’s journey is a a case study in how technical expertise, when combined with vision and perseverance, can transform a company’s fortunes. From the mHawk engine to the latest electric SUVs, his legacy is etched into Mahindra’s DNA. As he takes charge of the car business, enthusiasts and industry watchers alike will be keen to see how this “engine wizard” steers Mahindra into its next era of innovation and success.