Rajiv Bajaj Says Bajaj Auto Needs A ‘Younger MD’ 

Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto is renowned for making big statements that have a big impact in the industry, add a dash of humour during a press conference or even kick start a war of words. During the 17th Annual General Meet (AGM) of Bajaj Auto in Pune, Rajiv hinted that there could be a major rejig in the company. During the meeting, he mentioned that Bajaj Auto needed a “younger MD” and that he has been in the company for quite some time. He said, “Every time I say something to you (shareholders), I start by saying, ‘my mind goes back 30 years’. So, it tells me that perhaps I have been here long enough.”

Rajiv Bajaj further went on to add that similar to other companies such as Chetak Technologies and Bajaj Auto Credit, he thinks even Bajaj Auto needs a younger MD as he has been with the brand for around 34 years and at 58 years, he isn’t getting any younger. Rajiv had joined the company in the early 1990s and was part of the R&D team between 1995-2000. 

Post which, he was in the marketing and sales department before being added to the board of Bajaj Auto in March, 2002. He was appointed as the MD of the company in April, 2005. Rajiv Bajaj’s biggest gamble was switching Bajaj, a predominantly scooter brand into a motorcycle brand and his breakaway moment was with the Pulsar range, which till date is the bread and butter product for the brand. 

The remark made by Bajaj did take a lot of people by surprise as this is the first occasion in his 17-year journey as the MD of the company that there has been talks of a leadership change. Rajiv Bajaj’s son, Rishab joined the company in 2022 and currently works as the divisional manager for electric vehicle product strategy. The remark by Bajaj comes in the background of the company clocking an impressive ₹12,000 crore revenue in Q1 of 2025. Whether there is a change of guard at Bajaj Auto soon and if the brand would look inwards for a replacement or hire someone from outside remains to be seen. But one fact remains, it wouldn’t be an easy task filling the shoes of Rajiv Bajaj given his legacy and impact.