Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has appointed Andamuthu Ponnusamy as the Head of bus business, effective July 1, 2024. With over 35 years of experience in the automotive industry and a strong background at DICV, Ponnusamy is expected to drive strategic initiatives and operational excellence in the company's bus segment amidst India's burgeoning bus industry.
Andamuthu Ponnusamy began his journey with DICV in 2011 and has since become a pivotal figure in the company’s growth, especially in operations management. His new role as Head of Bus Business places him at the forefront of DICV’s strategy to tap into the healthy growth of the bus industry in India.
Satyakam Arya, Managing Director & CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said, "The bus industry in India is witnessing healthy growth and is poised to become a vital part of the growing CV industry volume in the medium term. Bus is an important part of our business and Andamuthu is the most able person in our organization to take our bus business to the next level. I am confident that he will drive the development and execution of strategic initiatives, focusing on product innovation and operational excellence in our bus business."
Ponnusamy played a crucial role in establishing DICV’s truck assembly operations from its inception, leveraging his expertise in leading diverse manufacturing teams. His understanding of operational excellence and cost management has been key to the company’s progress over the past decade. In 2016, he advanced to the position of Head of Cab Production and Truck Operating Systems, where he made significant improvements in operational excellence within DICV’s truck operations.
A notable achievement in Ponnusamy's career was leading the end-to-end operational planning and execution of the BharatBenz BS6 truck range during the enactment of the regulation in India. His efforts were vital in ensuring compliance and delivering high-standard products to the market.
In 2021, Ponnusamy was appointed as Head of Bus Production, in addition to his role as Head of Truck Cab Production. During this period, he successfully integrated the bus business with truck operations and led a capacity increase for fully built buses, resulting in a notable rise in production volumes. His strategic initiatives and collaborative approach with procurement, manufacturing, and engineering teams have led to substantial cost savings in bus production.
Ponnusamy said, "I am honored to be chosen to head the bus business at DICV. With our global DNA and the strong foundation that we have built here at DICV over the past decade, I am confident that we will achieve significant growth and set new industry benchmarks in the bus industry. As we navigate this exciting growth period, my priority will be to sharpen our competitive edge, contribute to the sustainable development of BharatBenz buses, and deliver value to our customers and stakeholders."
DICV, over the past decade, has set high standards for safety and efficiency in the commercial vehicle industry. The company is recognized for industry-leading total cost of ownership, with BharatBenz buses known for their reliability, comfort, and safety. DICV rolled out over 1,000 fully-built buses in 2023.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
