Former Kia sales head Hardeep Singh Brar appointed president and CEO of BMW India

Hardeep Singh Brar, who recently bid adieu to Kia India as the head of sales and marketing, has been appointed as the president and CEO of BMW Group India, effective September 1, the German carmaker said on Tuesday. Brar succeeds Vikram Pawah, who has been appointed the Chief Executive Officer of BMW Australia and New Zealand.

Hailing India as one of the fastest-growing markets for the BMW Group—and an important pillar of its long-term success strategy for the region—Jean-Philippe Parain, Senior Vice President, Region Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, BMW Group, said that Brar, “holds vast expertise and an intricate understating of Indian automotive industry to lead this dynamic market and strengthen BMW Group’s operations here.”

Brar is a veteran in the automotive industry, with more than three decades of experience. As senior vice president of sales and marketing at Kia India, Brar played a pivotal role in the growth phase of the company, where the company hit the milestone of one million cumulative sales, propelling the South Korean carmaker to become one of the top five carmakers in India. Brar’s tenure also saw Kia India launch nameplates including the Carens, the EV6—the company’s debut electric vehicle in India—the Sorento, and the flagship EV9, along with refreshing the Seltos, Sonet, and Carnival. 

He previously worked with Nissan Motor India, General Motors India, and had a 17-year stint with Maruti Suzuki. He briefly worked for Great Wall Motor India, shortly before the China-based company abandoned its ₹7,895-crore project in India, in the aftermath of the clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan.

Pawah, on the other hand, has been associated with the BMW Group since 2017 and has led the company’s operations in both India, first between 2017 and 2018 and then again between 2020 and 2025, as well as in Australia between 2018 and 2020. 

Most recently, under Pawah’s leadership, BMW Group India has posted its highest-ever car deliveries in the first half of 2025. The company sold 7,774 BMW and Mini cars, as well as 2,569 motorcycles, between January and June 2025. BMW sold 7,477 units and Mini 297 units. It also recorded the best-ever quarterly sales in the April-June quarter.