Daimler Truck Innovation Center India (DTICI) has appointed Radhakrishnan Kodakkal as its new MD & CEO, marking a key leadership transition at one of the global truck makers’ largest technology and development hubs outside Germany.
Based in Bengaluru, the innovation center plays a crucial role in the global engineering and digital development strategy of Daimler Truck. The appointment comes as the company accelerates innovation in areas such as electrification, digital engineering and sustainable commercial vehicle technologies.
Kodakkal brings nearly three decades of experience across multiple technology-driven industries including industrial automation, consumer durables and medical technology. Over the course of his career, he has held leadership roles in several prominent organizations, building a reputation for driving innovation-led transformation and managing complex global engineering operations.
At DTICI, he will be responsible for steering the next phase of growth for the center, strengthening its capabilities in advanced automotive engineering and ensuring it continues to deliver cutting-edge solutions for global markets.
DTICI was established on December 1, 2021, and has rapidly evolved into a strategic engineering hub within Daimler Truck’s global network. The center focuses on developing technologies and engineering solutions that support the company’s commercial vehicle portfolio worldwide.
The facility houses highly specialised teams working across several areas of automotive innovation. These include vehicle engineering, powertrain engineering, software development for electronic control units, computer-aided engineering (CAE), computer-aided design (CAD), and advanced IT programming using sophisticated engineering tools and digital platforms.
In addition, the center has developed expertise in emerging digital technologies such as connectivity solutions, cybersecurity systems, big data analytics, advanced system integration, and electrification technologies. These capabilities enable DTICI engineers to build next-generation mobility solutions that can be deployed across global markets.
Design innovation is another key pillar of the center’s operations. Dedicated design teams work on developing next-generation interiors and exteriors for Daimler Truck’s broad portfolio of commercial vehicles, ensuring that design, functionality and technology evolve together to meet future mobility requirements.
DTICI engineers are also deeply involved in advancing sustainable transportation technologies, with research and development efforts spanning both traditional and next-generation propulsion systems. The center contributes to innovation across conventional diesel platforms while simultaneously working on battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell and alternative propulsion technologies that are expected to shape the future of commercial mobility.
Within Daimler Truck’s global product engineering framework, the center operates through specialised units responsible for managing the entire digital product lifecycle, from early-stage concept development and digital simulation to manufacturing optimisation and aftersales engineering support.