Rajendra Kumar Misra, co-founder of Yulu Bikes and Director at Magna Yuma, has been appointed President of the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV). As President, he will lead SMEV between 2023-24 and will galvanise efforts to accelerate EV adoption in India by leveraging his deep insights into the country’s emerging mobility ecosystem.
Speaking about his appointment, Mr. R.K. Misra said, “SMEV has always played a critical role in steering India’s sustainable mobility transition, and I am excited for the opportunity to lead this esteemed organisation. I look forward to working closely with the Society’s members to deepen SMEV’s relationships with policymakers and to reinforce its position as the most dynamic, reputable, and knowledgeable platform advocating for the interests of EV original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), component makers, battery and cell OEMs, and charging infrastructure companies in India.”
Stressing the importance of meaningfully engaging with different stakeholders to achieve the organisation’s stated goals, he added, “Over the next few months, SMEV will work to broaden the scope and depth of discourse with policymakers, standard-setting organisations, industry, innovators, startups, and academia.”
A serial entrepreneur, Mr. Misra has nearly two decades of rich experience in urban planning, policy, and technology and has worked extensively with governments and industry organisations during this time. He is a non-resident scholar at Carnegie India, a global think-tank, and drives its Technology and Society program. He is also the founder of SAHYOG – Indian Council for Public-Private Partnership and founding director of the Center for SMART Cities. In addition, Mr Misra is co-chair of the South chapter of ASSOCHAM, India’s largest and oldest industry body.
Mr. Misra is an IIT-Kanpur alumnus and holds a master’s degree from Tokyo University. He is also a Fellow of Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Aspen Institute.