BYD India, a subsidiary of the global leader in New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), BYD, has announced the appointment of Rajeev Chauhan as the new Vice President of the Electric Passenger Vehicle Business. Chauhan succeeds Sanjay Gopalakrishnan, who is retiring after over three decades in the Indian automotive industry, including his tenure establishing the EV Passenger Vehicle Business at BYD India.
Rajeev Chauhan is a seasoned automotive leader with a career spanning over 25 years. His experience includes significant roles at Honda Cars India and Volvo Car India. Chauhan has driven innovative strategies across retail network development, customer experience, electrification, direct sales, product development, customer service, and digital transformation. His efforts to optimize retail capacity with a strong customer focus have redefined customer experiences, increased market share, and created a highly profitable dealer network. Chauhan will now spearhead BYD India’s overall electric passenger vehicle business.
Reflecting on his retirement, Sanjay Gopalakrishnan, outgoing Senior Vice President of Electric Passenger Vehicle Business at BYD India, stated, “The world is at the cusp of a brighter and more sustainable future. BYD has played a stellar role in this progress towards a greener tomorrow. It has been an honor to be part of this journey, making sustainable technologies and motoring more accessible to Indian consumers.”
Gopalakrishnan added, “I consider it my good fortune to have worked, learned, and grown in what I think is one of the most dynamic and exciting industries in India and the world. Retiring at the pinnacle of eco-sensitive, sustainable motoring is a perfect way to bow out.”
BYD has recently maintained its position among the top 10 in the Kantar BrandZ Global Automotive Brands rankings for 2024, marking the second consecutive year the company has featured in these prestigious rankings with a brand value exceeding $10 billion. In 2023, BYD’s global car sales surpassed 3.02 million units, with over 7.6 million NEVs sold to date.
In India, BYD’s product lineup includes the e6 electric MPV, the ATTO 3 electric SUV, and the recently launched BYD SEAL, a luxury electric sedan. The BYD SEAL boasts a range of up to 650 kilometers, can accelerate to 100 kph in 3.8 seconds, and features Cell To Body (CTB) technology, ADAS Level 2, and nine airbags, among other advanced features.
