New Delhi, India – In a significant leadership transition, BYD India, a subsidiary of the global New Energy Vehicles (NEV) giant BYD, has appointed Rajeev Chauhan as the new Vice President of its Electric Passenger Vehicle Business. Chauhan steps into the role following the retirement of Sanjay Gopalakrishnan, who has been instrumental in establishing BYD’s EV Passenger Vehicle Business in India.
Chauhan, a seasoned automotive leader with over 25 years of experience, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to BYD India. His distinguished career includes notable tenures at Honda Cars India and Volvo Car India, where he excelled in various strategic domains such as retail network expansion, customer experience enhancement, electrification initiatives, direct sales, product development, customer service, and digital transformation. His leadership is credited with redefining customer experiences, boosting market share, creating profitable dealer networks, and enhancing overall company profitability.
Expressing his enthusiasm about the new role, Rajeev Chauhan stated, “The world is at the cusp of a brighter and more sustainable future. And BYD has been playing a stellar role in this progress towards a greener tomorrow. It is my honour to be a part of this journey where we can together make sustainable technologies and sustainable motoring more accessible to Indian consumers.”
Sanjay Gopalakrishnan, reflecting on his retirement, remarked, “I consider it my good fortune to have worked, learnt, and grown in what I think to be one of the most dynamic and exciting industries in India and the world. I can’t ask for a better way to bow out than to retire at the pinnacle of eco-sensitive, sustainable motoring, which is the blueprint for the future.”
BYD continues to solidify its reputation as a leading global automotive brand. The company recently maintained its position among the top 10 in the 2024 Kantar BrandZ Global Automotive Brands rankings, marking its second consecutive year on the list with a brand value exceeding US$10 billion. In 2023, BYD’s global car sales surpassed 3.02 million units, contributing to a total of over 7.6 million NEVs sold to date.
In India, BYD offers a diverse range of electric vehicles, including the e6 electric MPV, the Atto 3 electric SUV, and its latest addition, the BYD Seal. The Seal, a luxury electric sedan, boasts a range of up to 650 kilometers, accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 3.8 seconds, features Cell To Body (CTB) technology, ADAS Level 2, and comes equipped with nine airbags among other advanced features.
