Toyota Kirloskar Vice Chairman Vikram Kirloskar dies at 64

Bengaluru/New Delhi: Eminent industrialist and Toyota Kirloskar Motor Vice-Chairman Vikram S Kirloskar, who was instrumental in bringing Japanese auto major Toyota to India, died due to a heart attack on Tuesday.

He was 64. “We are extremely saddened to inform the untimely demise of Vikram S Kirloskar, Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor on November 29, 2022. At this time of grief, we request everyone to pray that his soul rests in peace,” Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) said in a statement.

Last respects can be paid to him at the Hebbal Crematorium, Bengaluru, at 1 pm on Wednesday it added. Kirloskar suffered a cardiac arrest on Tuesday morning and was immediately rushed to a private hospital, where he passed away.

A mechanical engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Vikram Kirloskar played a key role in establishing the joint venture between the Japanese auto major Toyota Motor Company and the Kirloskar Group. The joint venture– Toyota Kirloskar Motor -- became operational in 1997 and now rolls out models like Fortuner and Urban Cruiser Hyryder from its Bidadi –based manufacturing facility.

The plant has an installed capacity to roll out 3.10 lakh units per annum. Kirloskar is survived by his wife Geetanjali Kirloskar and daughter Manasi Kirloskar. He held various leadership positions in various industry bodies. He was the President of auto industry body SIAM from 2013-2015 and also President of the CII between 2019-20.