Jagdish Khattar, former managing director of India’s largest car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki died on Monday morning due to a cardiac arrest. He was 78 years old.
Jagdish Khattar joined Maruti in July 1993 as director marketing. He went on to become managing director in 1999, first as a givernment nominee and then as a Suzuki Motor Corporation nominee in 2002.
During his tenure as a Managing Director from 1999 to 2007, he took MSIL through a period of remarkable growth. He played an important role in making the Maruti Suzuki 800 as the first successful model for the brand.
Before joining Maruti, Jagdish Khattar had worked as Join Secretary in the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, for about 5 years. He headed the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), apex body of the auto industry, between 2003 and 2005.
After retiring at the age of 65 in 2007, He started Carnation Auto – which an automotive sales and service company in 2008. This venture was acquired by Mahindra First Choice in 2018.
