Vikram Lal – Founder of Eicher Motors

Vikram Lal – Founder of Eicher Motors

Vikram Lal is an Indian businessman and industrialist who is the founder and former CEO of Eicher Motors, a leading Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer based in New Delhi, India. He has been a member of the board of directors of The Doon School. 

 Early life 

 Vikram Lal was born on November 4, 1942, in Shimla, a city in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. He was born into a family of industrialists and businessmen. 

Lal finished his early education in India before relocating to the UK to continue his higher education. He graduated from Imperial College in London with a degree in mechanical engineering and from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States with a master’s degree in automotive engineering. 

After completing his education, Lal worked briefly in the United States before returning to India to join his family’s business, Eicher Motors, in 1969. At the time, Eicher Motors was primarily involved in the manufacture of tractors and other agricultural machinery. 

 Career 

 Vikram Lal’s career has been closely associated with Eicher Motors, the company founded by his family in 1948. Lal joined the company in 1969 and became its managing director in 1982. He led the company through a period of rapid expansion, diversifying its product portfolio and establishing it as one of India’s leading manufacturers of commercial vehicles and motorcycles. 

During Lal’s tenure, Eicher Motors formed joint ventures with international companies like Volvo, Mitsubishi, and Polaris, which helped the company gain access to new technology and expand its operations globally. The company’s Royal Enfield brand of motorcycles, in particular, gained a cult following in India and around the world, and became one of the mainstays of Eicher’s business. 

In 1999, Lal stepped down as managing director of Eicher Motors and became its non-executive chairman. He continued to be involved in the company’s strategic direction and played a key role in the acquisition of the iconic British motorcycle brand, Royal Enfield, in 1994. 

Apart from his association with Eicher Motors, Lal has been involved in various industry associations and has held several leadership positions. He was the president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) from 2001 to 2003 and has served as a member of the board of several companies, including the Tata Group. 

 Philanthropist 

 Vikram Lal has also been actively involved in philanthropic activities through the Lala Shri Ram Foundation, which was established by his family. The foundation focuses on promoting education and social welfare in India. 

The foundation has supported a wide range of initiatives over the years, including the establishment of schools, hospitals, and other institutions like the Lady Shri Ram College for Women, the Lala Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts, the Shri Ram College of Commerce, and the Shri Ram School. 

 Apart from these initiatives, the Lala Shri Ram Foundation has also supported various other projects in the areas of healthcare, social welfare, and environmental conservation. Through his philanthropic work, Vikram Lal has made a significant contribution to the development of Indian society, particularly in the areas of education and social welfare. 

 Vikram Lal’s Path to Success 

 Lal received a top-notch education both at home and overseas. He graduated from Imperial College in London with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States with a Master’s degree in Automotive Engineering. This education provided him with a strong foundation in engineering and technology, which was useful in his later business ventures.  

Lal recognized the importance of building strategic partnerships with other companies in the automotive industry. He formed joint ventures with international companies like Volvo, Mitsubishi, and Polaris, which helped Eicher Motors gain access to new technology and expand its operations globally. Under his leadership, Eicher Motors became one of India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, producing a range of trucks, buses, and motorcycles. The company is particularly known for its Royal Enfield brand of motorcycles, which have a cult following in India and around the world.   

Today, Lal is widely regarded as one of India’s most successful industrialists and business leaders, and his contributions to the country’s economic development have been widely recognized.  

In recognition of his contribution to Indian industry, Lal has received numerous awards and honors. He is also a member of several industry associations and is involved in various philanthropic activities. 

 Networth 

 Vikram Lal’s net worth has been estimated to be approximately $1.7 billion, indicating significant financial success and wealth accumulation over his lifetime. 

 Interesting Facts about Vikram Lal 

• Eicher manufactured its first tractor in India in 1959 
• Lal, a cartography enthusiast, spearheaded the company’s city map project, which resulted in the release of the Eicher City Map – Delhi in 1996. It was followed by the creation of maps for other cities. 
• Lal is said to be a licenced paragliding pilot. 
• Vikram Lal’s Eicher Motors manufactures the iconic Royal Enfield motorbikes. 

 ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS 

• For his innovative leadership and outstanding achievements in the automobile industry, Vikram Lal was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005. 
• In 2011, Vikram Lal was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India, for his outstanding contribution to the automobile industry. 
• In 2012, Vikram Lal was honored with the JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award for his contributions to the Indian automotive industry. 
• In 2014, Vikram Lal was awarded the Economic Times Lifetime Achievement Award for his exemplary contribution to the Indian automobile industry. 
• In 2017, Vikram Lal was honored with the AIMA Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the Indian industry and for his exceptional leadership skills. [All India Management Association (AIMA)] 
• In 2017, Vikram Lal was presented with the Business Standard Award for Corporate Excellence in the Outstanding Contribution to the Indian Economy category. 
• Vikram Lal received the SIAM Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for his great contributions to the Indian automotive industry. [Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM)]