Toyota Kirloskar Vice-Chairman Vikram S Kirloskar Dies At Age of 64; Key Facts To Know About Him

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Vice-Chairman Vikram S Kirloskar has died due to a heart attack at the age of 64, the automaker said on Wednesday. “We are extremely saddened to inform the untimely demise of Vikram S Kirloskar, Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor on 29th November 2022. At this time of grief, we request everyone to pray that his soul rests in peace,” the company said in a statement.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor said that last respects can be paid to him at the Hebbal Crematorium, Bengaluru, at 1 pm on Wednesday. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), which sells a range of vehicles, is a joint venture between the Japanese auto major Toyota Motor Company and the Kirloskar Group.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the executive chairperson of Bengaluru-headquartered biopharmaceuticals company Biocon, said, “Devastated with Vikram’s shocking demise. He was such a dear friend who I will hugely miss. I share the pain and unconsolable grief of Gitanjali Manasi n the family.”

Vikram Kirloskar is survived by his wife Geetanjali Kirloskar and daughter Manasi Kirloskar. Kirloskar, who was a resident of Bengaluru, was a fourth-generation member of the Kirloskar Group, which started in 1888. The Kirloskar Group mainly manufactures pumps, engines and compressors, among other products.

He played a key role in bringing Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp to India in the late 1990s, and was solely responsible for partnering with the Toyota group and starting a major automobile manufacturing industry in Karnataka.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in a tweet said, “Deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Shri Vikram Kirloskar, Vice-Chairperson, Toyota Kirloskar Motor. A doyen of the automotive industry, he pioneered its transformation with his leadership. In this hour of grief, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family & friends.”

Kirloskar was chairman and managing director of Kirloskar Systems and vice-chairman of Toyota Kirloskar Motor.

Karnataka C M Basavaraj Bommai on Twitter said, “Heartfelt condolences on the sad & untimely demise of one of the stalwarts of India’s automotive industry, Vice Chairperson of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Shri Vikram Kirloskar. May his soul rest in peace. May God grant the family & friends the strength to bear this loss. Om Shanti.”

He had an engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US, where he was involved in various extra-curricular activities at MIT. He also served on the board of trustees of The Rhode Island School of Design.

Vikram started working in his family business after college, initially in production engineering. He designed and developed many processes and machine tools early in his career.

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