Vikram Lal

Vikram Lal (born 1942) is an Indian businessman. Lal is the founder and former CEO of Eicher Motors, an Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer based in New Delhi, India.[1] He has been a member of the board of directors of The Doon School.[2] As per the Forbes list of India’s 100 richest tycoons, as of 9 October 2024, Vikram Lal and his family are ranked 31st with a net worth of $8.8 billion.[3]

Early life and education

Vikram Lal was born in 1942.[4] He studied mechanical engineering at the Technische Universität Darmstadt.[5][6]

Business career

In 1966, Lal joined Eicher India, part of his family owned companies established by his father, Man Mohan Lal, in 1948.[7] Eicher started as the first tractor manufacturer in India in 1959 under the company name Eicher Tractor Corporation of India Pvt. Ltd., as a joint venture with German tractor manufacturer Eicher, and eventually branched out into light commercial vehicles in 1986, and then into heavy vehicles.[8] In 1985, he took a step back in detailed management of his companies as result of a heart bypass, which also contributed to his later decision of handing over management control of his companies to professionals.[9] In 1997, Lal retired from all executive roles in his companies and handed control over to professional managers.[10]

Personal life

Lal is married to Anita Lal and they have 3 children.[11][9] Anita founded the lifestyle brand Good Earth.[11] His son, Siddhartha Lal, became CEO of Eicher Motors in 2006.[12] One of his daughters, Simran, runs the family's two lifestyle brands, Good Earth and Nicobar.[5][13][14] Lal spends his retirement years volunteering at his own Goodearth Education Foundation.[5]

External links

• Interview by The Tribune
• Vikram Lal, The Times of India