With over three decades in the automotive sector, the industry veteran steps into a defining role as India’s infra and mining sectors gear up for exponential growth, writes Ashish Bhatia
After more than three decades in the automotive industry, K. Vijaya Kumar, a seasoned business leader known for his strategic vision and operational depth, is taking on a new challenge. He has joined the C.K. Birla Group as Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Infra & Mining Solutions (IIMS). He moves on from Greaves Electric Mobility, his latest stint, where he drove the growth journey, accelerating EV adoption of last-mile passenger and cargo mobility solutions across two-wheelers and three-wheelers.
His appointment comes at a defining moment for India’s infrastructure and mining ecosystem, two sectors poised to drive the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision. The C.K. Birla Group is well-regarded as a diversified conglomerate spanning automotive, building materials, healthcare, and technology. Kumar’s appointment further positions IIMS as a catalyst for transformation, aligning its ambitions with India’s accelerating growth story.
The New Frontier
For Kumar, this is more than a change of sector, it’s an evolution. Having helmed leadership roles at Greaves Cotton, where he oversaw automotive and e-mobility operations during India’s early EV revolution, his pivot to infrastructure is perceived as a strategic progression. In his announcement, Kumar underscored that India is entering a “defining decade of progress”, backed by strong macroeconomic fundamentals. The national highway network is projected to reach 185,000 km by 2030. The mining and construction equipment sector is expected to contribute nearly USD 100 billion to the Indian economy. The combined sector could generate over 20 million jobs in the coming decade. Such figures underline the vast opportunity for innovation-led industrial enterprises like IIMS, where automation, electrification, and digital integration could set new productivity benchmarks.
Global Ecosystem For Collaboration
Operating under the C.K. Birla Group’s umbrella, Innovative Infra and Mining Solutions (IIMS) aims to become a fully integrated ecosystem player, combining global partnerships with localised excellence. In his statement, Kumar highlighted the significance of IIMS’ strategic collaborations with global heavy-duty players, including BharatBenz, Dynapac, Apollo Tyres, Donaldson, and Berco. Together, they cover the full value chain, including, but not limited to, powertrain systems, tyres, filtration, components, and aftersales support. This collaborative ecosystem is designed to deliver comprehensive solutions addressing India’s dual challenge of performance reliability and sustainability compliance. Synergies with C.K. Birla’s other industrial pillars, such as GMMCO, one of India’s most established heavy equipment and mining service providers, could enable IIMS to offer unmatched coverage from product to lifecycle support under Kumar’s leadership.
Electrification in Heavy-Duty Sectors
Perhaps the most exciting potential lies in bringing e-mobility to infrastructure and mining, a domain that has witnessed electrification of heavy machinery and equipment like dump trucks and excavators at either end of the spectrum, with headroom for a higher penetration. Having shaped the electric three-wheeler and small commercial vehicle segment at Greaves Cotton, Kumar’s deep understanding of EV ecosystems, sourcing, and cost competitiveness could accelerate electric adoption in heavy-duty operations. It is backed by the value proposition of Lower operational costs and reduced diesel dependency. Predictive maintenance for greater uptime. Cleaner energy compliance aligns with India’s Net Zero 2070 goals. Such integration of clean technology into mining and construction could redefine how fleets and site operators view profitability and sustainability, not as opposites, but as parallel objectives.
Kumar’s entry at this juncture couldn’t be better timed. India’s infrastructure investment is expanding at a record pace. Highways, logistics corridors, renewable energy parks, and industrial clusters are driving multi-sector demand. Simultaneously, the mining sector’s growth from USD 16 billion in 2023 to USD 45 billion by 2030 (CAGR ~20 per cent) highlights it as a cornerstone of the economy. For those who’ve followed Kumar’s journey, this transition reflects a consistent theme. The drive to transform legacy sectors through technology, empathy, and efficiency.
