Business: Special Series; Rajv Bajaj, 32

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Nov 8, 1999

SPECIAL SERIES

Rajv Bajaj, 32
Vice-President, Bajaj Auto

Rescue Artist
There's this joke about Bajaj Auto: it will give you any scooter model as long as it's a Chetak. The joke's wearing thin. The reason: a tough market, and Rajiv Bajaj. Son of patriarch Rahul, Rajiv is spearheading change in the two-wheeler giant his father built. In the late '90s, Bajaj Auto has gone from dictating to the market to losing share. Rajiv is part of a transition that will decide whether an icon worth Rs 3,900 crore makes the shift. "We have to stay No. 1," he asserts.

He's had a few successes, like the reworked KB 100 motorcycle, the new, slick Caliber; in motorcycles, Bajaj's share is now at 30 per cent. "He has fresh ideas which the company desperately needs," says J. Rajagopalan, managing director, KPMG India. Father Rahul talks of Rajiv taking over as "just a matter of time". For Rajiv the CEO's chair will literally be the driving seat. He'll have a hard ride, but the good news is that he is readying for it.

-Robin Abreu

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