Radhakrishnan Kodakkal takes over as CEO of Daimler Truck Innovation Center India

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 Bengaluru-based engineering and technology hub.

Kodakkal succeeds Raghavendra Vaidya, who has moved into the role of global Chief Information Officer at Daimler Truck AG, the company said in an announcement.

The leadership transition comes as Daimler Truck expands its global engineering and digital capabilities, with India playing a growing role in the group’s technology and product development network.

Strengthening the India innovation hub

As CEO, Kodakkal will oversee efforts to expand DTICI’s engineering, software and digital platform capabilities. His role will involve closer coordination with Daimler Truck’s global product engineering, technology and IT teams.

The company said the appointment is aimed at strengthening India’s role in engineering development, digital platforms and IT operations, positioning the centre as a key innovation and delivery hub within Daimler Truck’s global ecosystem.

DTICI was established in December 2021 and focuses on product engineering and IT development for Daimler Truck’s global brands. Headquartered in Bengaluru, the centre draws on India’s engineering and technology talent to support the company’s global operations.

Leadership experience in technology and R&D

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. In that role, he oversaw global technology planning and led research and engineering operations across multiple regions.

His work included driving large-scale digital transformation programmes and developing technology strategies focused on connected and intelligent product systems.

Announcing the appointment, Thomas Ulm, Chairman of Daimler Truck Innovation Center India, said Kodakkal’s experience would help strengthen the centre’s role in the company’s global technology network.

“Radhakrishnan brings deep expertise in technology and engineering, complemented by strong global leadership experience and a proven ability to build and scale innovation,” Ulm said.

“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 also acknowledged the contribution of outgoing CEO Raghavendra Vaidya, noting that the centre had grown into a significant part of Daimler Truck’s global technology organisation during his tenure.

Focus on transformation in the automotive sector

Kodakkal said the automotive industry is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven by advances in digital technologies, connected systems and sustainability requirements.

“I am excited to step into this role and build on the strong foundation that has been established,” he said.

“The automotive industry is experiencing a period of significant transformation and there’s no better time to be part of it than now.”

He added that DTICI had developed into a key technology hub for the company and emphasised collaboration with global teams.

“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.”

India’s growing role in global engineering networks

Daimler Truck’s decision to appoint a new leader for the Bengaluru centre underscores the increasing importance of India in global engineering and digital operations.

The company describes DTICI as one of its largest development centres outside Germany, supporting engineering and IT initiatives across Daimler Truck’s worldwide portfolio.

As the commercial vehicle industry moves towards electrification, connected technologies and software-driven platforms, engineering hubs such as DTICI are expected to play a larger role in product development and digital services.

With Kodakkal now at the helm, the company will look to expand its engineering footprint in India while strengthening collaboration across its global technology network, as the automotive sector continues its transition towards connected and sustainable mobility.