Rajiv Nayan Rahulkumar Bajaj is the Managing Director and CEO of Bajaj Auto, India’s leading two-wheeler manufacturer. Rajiv Bajaj graduated first in class, with distinction, in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pune in 1988, and then completed his masters in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the University of Warwick in 1991. On returning from UK, he started off at the shop floor level at Bajaj Auto where he did a three-year stint. He gained experience in the areas of Manufacturing & Supply Chain (1990-95), R+D and Engineering (1995-2000), and Marketing and Sales (2000-2005), and rose to be Managing Director of Bajaj Auto in 2005. He introduced the Pulsar range of motorcycles credited with reviving the fortunes of the ailing company.

Under his leadership, in December 2020, Bajaj Auto became the world’s most valuable two-wheeler company when it crossed a market capitalization of ₹1 trillion (US$13 billion).  His leadership philosophy emphasizes lean management, continuous innovation, and a unique aspect of his strategy is the application of the scientific principles of Homeopathy to brand-building.

His transformation of Bajaj Auto from a struggling scooter manufacturer to the world’s most valuable two-wheeler company represents one of India’s most successful corporate turnarounds in the automotive industry. Rajiv’s current priority is to ensure Bajaj Auto remains at the forefront of technological advancements and sustainable mobility solutions. His forward-thinking vision and commitment to excellence, solidifies Bajaj Auto’s  position as a major player in the global automotive market. Indiaspora is proud to have Rajiv Bajaj on our Business Leaders 2.0 List.