Daimler Truck Innovation Center India (DTICI) has appointed Radhakrishnan Kodakkal as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, marking a leadership change at the company’s engineering and technology centre in Bengaluru. The appointment comes as Daimler Truck expands its global engineering and digital capabilities, with India playing a larger role in its product development and technology network.
Kodakkal succeeds Raghavendra Vaidya, who has taken over as global Chief Information Officer at Daimler Truck AG. As CEO, Kodakkal will oversee the expansion of DTICI’s engineering, software and digital platform capabilities. His responsibilities include coordinating with Daimler Truck’s global product engineering, technology and information technology teams.
DTICI was established in December 2021 and focuses on product engineering and information technology development for Daimler Truck’s brands. The Bengaluru-based centre supports engineering and digital initiatives across the company’s global operations.
Kodakkal brings more than three decades of experience in engineering, technology and research and development across multinational companies. Most recently, he served as Global Head of Integrated Technology and Vice President and Head of the Global Technology and Engineering Center at Whirlpool Corporation, where he oversaw global technology planning and led research and engineering operations across multiple regions.
“Radhakrishnan brings deep expertise in technology and engineering, complemented by strong global leadership experience and a proven ability to build and scale innovation,” said Thomas Ulm, Chairman of Daimler Truck Innovation Center India.
“As DTICI continues to play a central role in Daimler Truck’s global engineering and IT network, we are confident that his leadership will further strengthen DTICI’s position as a trusted innovation and delivery hub across the global Daimler Truck ecosystem,” Ulm said.
Kodakkal said the automotive industry is undergoing rapid change driven by digital technologies, connected systems and sustainability requirements.
“The automotive industry is experiencing a period of significant transformation and there’s no better time to be part of it than now,” Kodakkal said.
“DTICI has grown into a pivotal technology and innovation hub for Daimler Truck, driven by exceptional talent in India. I look forward to collaborating closely with colleagues across the globe to deliver solutions that are scalable, sustainable, and future-ready,” Kodakkal said.
Daimler Truck Innovation Center India focuses on product engineering and information technology development and supports engineering and digital initiatives across Daimler Truck’s global commercial vehicle operations.
