Our Founder
Late Mr. H.K. Firodia – The Doyen of Indian Automobile
The Kinetic Group, with the flagship company Kinetic Engineering Limited, was founded by one of the most celebrated and inspirational industrialists in the Indian Automobile Industry – Late Mr. H.K. Firodia.
Mr. H.K. Firodia, fondly remembered as the Doyen of the Indian Automobile Industry, collaborated with his brother to start and operate some of India’s most esteemed automobile companies, including Bajaj Auto Limited (in partnership with the Bajaj Family), Force Motors Limited (under a technical license from Mercedes Benz), and Kinetic Honda Motor Company (in collaboration with Honda). Mr. H.K. Firodia was the man who almost single-handedly laid the foundations of the now flourishing Indian Automobile Industry and bequeathed the Kinetic Group an illustrious legacy. He firmly believed in harnessing technology for self-reliance and emphasized greatly achieving excellence in everything that we do. He always prized the spirit of human endeavour.
HK FIRODIA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
The Awards are known as HK Firodia Awards for Excellence in Science & Technology. Started 25 years ago in 1996, the awards can be called revolutionary initiative, as it became the highest prize in science and technology in value and scale. It exceeded even the prestigious SS Bhatnagar prize.
The aim is simple – to recognize extraordinary achievements of Indian scientists and inspire young students and researchers to pursue a life in science.
The Awards are given to any Indian Scientist who has made original and outstanding contributions in India work to any field of Science & Technology such as Agriculture, Engineering, Medical Sciences to Space and Environmental Sciences etc.
Renowned scientists Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, Dr. Vijay Bhatkar and Dr. Anil Kakodkar and shri. Arun Firodia are on the award selection committee. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and Dr. CNR Rao are two eminent winners were later on honored with the prestigious Bharat Ratna Award in 1997 and 2013 respectively.
OUR CHAIRMAN
Dr. Arun Firodia– Padma Shri Awardee and Alumnus Award recipient from MIR (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
Padmashri Dr. Arun Firodia, the chairman of Kinetic Group is an epitome of the combination of a brilliant engineer and an astute businessman’ Apart from being a leading industrialist, Dr. Arun Firodia is also a prominent social activist’ Born to Shri H.K. Firodia in 7943, Dr. Arun Firodia obtained his B. Tech degree with distinction in Electrical Engineering from IIT Mumbai in 1965. He continues the rich tradition of his distinguished father, Late Shri H K Firodia.
Padmashri Dr. Arun Firodia developed “Luna” – India’s first completely domestic moped. Luna, instant hit with became a consumer and remains an all-time success story. India will always cherish him as the man who introduced the world’s most advanced scooter to India in a Joint Venture with Honda Motor Company of Japan.
Padmashri Dr. Arun Firodia has collaborated with globally acclaimed corporations such as Hyundai, Taigene, Sciaky, Daewoo, and San Yang to bring innovation to India by producing advanced technology products.
He is the Founder and Chairman of the “H K Firodia Memorial Foundation” started in tribute and remembrance of his father, Late Shri H K Firodia, in 1996. The H K Firodia Awards for Excellence in Science & Technology,” presented by the HK Firodia Memoria! Foundation, are awarded to exceptional Indian scientists for their innovative contributions and supreme work in any branch of science. These awards have been presented to many eminent and distinguished scientists, including Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, Dr. K Kasturirangan, Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Dr. R. Chidambaram, Prof. CNR Rao, Dr. R A Mashelkar, Dr. Obaid Siddiqi, Dr. P N Tandon, and others.
Padmashri Dr. Arun Firodia holds the following titles and positions:
- Past President of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, industries, and Agriculture (2000- 2002)
- Founder President of the Pune Citizen’s Police Foundation (PCPF)
- A member of the Executive Committee of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers
- A member of the Advisory Board of the All-lndia Sainik Welfare Association
Padmashri Dr. Arun Firodia is also the recipient of the following Honors and Awards:
- Padma Shri for excellence in Trade & Industry (2012)
- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mumbai – Distinguished Alumnus Award for excellent contributions to Industry, Academia, and Society.
- MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Alumnus Award (2007) for distinguished achievement and exceptional service to Country, Society, and MIT.
- ‘Pune Super Achievers Award’ (2006) instituted by ASM’s – IBMR and IIBR jointly with Vision India
- Auto Cluster Appreciation Award (2006) in appreciation of initiative and efforts for the successful operation of ACDRIL.
- Lifetime Achievement Award (2005) ‘instituted jointly’ by SIAM, ACMA, ICICI, and Overdrive: For being the pioneer in putting affordable mobility within reach of the masses and for bringing convenience and refinement to scootering by giving a modern-day shape, scale, and scope to the Indian two-wheeler industry.
- TERI – Corporate Social Responsibility Award (2004-05) – Certificate of Appreciation for efforts towards good corporate citizenship and sustainable initiatives among Corporates.
- The Helen Keller Award (2004) for contributing to the rehabilitation of Leprosy-affected people who had become social outcasts.
- FICCI Annual Award (2003) for outstanding achievement in employing Physically Challenged people.
Our Managing Director
Introducing Ajinkya Firodia, current MD of Kinetic Engineering Ltd., and scion of the industrialist Firodia family from Pune, which has been one the front runners of the Indian Automobile Industry since the past 50 years.
He graduated magna cum laude from the prestigious IVY league Brown University, USA in 2001 with a double degree in engineering & economics and went on to as a financial analyst in M&A at the investment banking division of J P Morgan Chase.
On his return to India, he took charge of the sales, marketing, product development & service for Kinetic two wheelers spread across India. His achievements included launching various scooters & motorcycles under international collaborations as well as revamping the Kinetic brand identity & dealership network.
He ultimately made his way to the top and is now leading this flagship company with efficiency, tenacity, zeal & enthusiasm while converting a two-wheeler manufacturing company into a leading auto-component manufacturer with a strong focus on transmission assemblies for global markets. This major challenge included a revamp of culture, technology, business model, financial engineering, backward integration & turning around the operations for sustainable and long-term growth.
He is also an avid Superbike enthusiast, and started the country’s first multiband super bike retail venture which housed the world’s most exotic super bikes including MV Agusta, Norton, SWM, Mondial & Hyosung within the mother brand, Motoroyale.
Recently under his leadership, the Kinetic Group has ventured into several initiatives for electric vehicles & parts including controllers, motors, batteries, gearboxes, & axles with a straight look into the future.
Ajinkya has always supported entrepreneurship and been instrumental in starting various start-ups of his own, and expanding the product portfolios of existing companies for staying true to the DNA of innovation in the Kinetic Group.
These achievements have won him many accolades including 40 under 40 by economic times, Pune’s most powerful 2018 – 2019, Femina’s Men We Admire as well as Manufacturing Today’s Business Excellence award.
Achievements include:
- Complete turnaround of Kinetic Engineering Limited operations to bring company from heavily incurring loss to profitability
- Reduced in excess of 300 crores of KEL debt
- Ensured prestigious customers and built a strong quality approach
- Upgraded facilities
- Delivered shareholder value by heavy focus on operations & costs
Awards:
- 40 under 40 by economic times
- Pune’s most powerful 2018 – 2019 Business Leader Award