TVS Motor Company
Company History
TVS Motor History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1978 in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India
When was TVS Motor founded?
TVS Motor was founded in 1978 in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India by T. V. Sundram Iyengar and Venu Srinivasan, making it 48 years old.
- Founded
- 1978
- Founding place
- Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India
- Founders
- T. V. Sundram Iyengar and Venu Srinivasan
- Headquarters today
- Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Milestones documented
- 12 (1911–2024)
- Current CEO
- K. N. Radhakrishnan
- Acquisitions
- 8
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1911 | T.V. Sundaram Iyengar Founds TVS Group: Thirukurungudi Vengaram Sundaram Iyengar founds T.V. Sundaram Iyengar and Sons in Madurai, establishing a well-known transportation, bus fleet, and automotive component empire. |
| 1978 | Establishment of TVS Motor Plant in Hosur: TVS establishes its two-wheeler manufacturing plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, producing the well-known TVS 50 2-stroke moped, mobilizing millions of Indian rural workers. |
| 1980 | TVS 50 Moped Launched |
| 1982 | TVS Suzuki Joint Venture Established: Partners with Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation to manufacture modern 100cc Japanese motorcycles in India (TVS-Suzuki AX100 and Samurai). |
| 2001 | Amicable Separation from Suzuki & TVS Victor Launch: TVS and Suzuki amicably buy out joint venture shares; TVS launches the 100% indigenously developed TVS Victor 110cc commuter motorcycle, which becomes a blockbuster hit. |
| 2002 | World's First Two-Wheeler Maker to Win the Deming Prize: TVS Motor Company is awarded the Deming Application Prize by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) for total quality management excellence. |
| 2006 | Launch of the TVS Apache Series: Introduces the TVS Apache performance motorcycle, originating from TVS Racing's factory track lineage, which grows into a 5-million-rider global sports franchise. |
| 2013 | BMW Motorrad Strategic Partnership: Signs long-term cooperation agreement with BMW Motorrad to co-develop and manufacture sub-500cc motorcycles (BMW G 310 R, GS, and TVS Apache RR 310) in Hosur. |
| 2013 | Jupiter Scooter Launched |
| 2020 | Acquisition of Norton Motorcycles (UK): Acquires historic British luxury superbike brand Norton Motorcycles for 16 million, building a modern factory in Solihull, England. |
| 2022 | Sudarshan Venu becomes managing director |
| 2024 | Surpassing 300,000 TVS iQube EV Deliveries: TVS iQube crosses 300,000 cumulative electric scooter sales, establishing TVS as India's top 2 electric two-wheeler manufacturer alongside Ola Electric. |
- Where was TVS Motor founded?
- TVS Motor was founded in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India in 1978.
- Who founded TVS Motor?
- TVS Motor was founded by T. V. Sundram Iyengar and Venu Srinivasan.
- When did TVS Motor start?
- TVS Motor was founded in 1978.
- How old is TVS Motor?
- TVS Motor is 48 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
The TVS legacy began in 1911 when entrepreneur Thirukkurungudi Vengaram Sundram Iyengar established T.V. Sundram Iyengar & Sons in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, pioneering South India's first rural passenger bus transport and automotive dealerships. The group's dedicated manufacturing division, which evolved into TVS Motor Company, was founded in 1978 with the construction of a state-of-the-art production facility in Hosur. In 1980, under the stewardship of Venu Srinivasan, TVS launched the TVS 50, India's first two-seater 50cc moped, which democratized affordable personal mobility for millions of suburban and rural families. In 1982, TVS entered a historic technical partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation ('Ind-Suzuki') to engineer high-performance motorcycles, before operating independently from 2001 onward as a global two-wheeler leader.
Founders
T. V. Sundram Iyengar
T. V. Sundram Iyengar (1877-1955) was a lawyer-turned-entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu who founded T.V. Sundram Iyengar & Sons in Madurai in 1911. He started with rural bus services and motor dealerships, building the transport and automotive business that grew into the TVS Group, the parent lineage of TVS Motor Company. Thirukkurungudi Vengaram Sundram Iyengar was born on March 22, 1877 and died on April 28, 1955. He founded T. V. Sundram Iyengar and Sons in 1911 as a bus company, which later moved into automobiles and became the parent of the TVS Group. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Venu Srinivasan
Venu Srinivasan, grandson of T. V. Sundram Iyengar, led the TVS two-wheeler business for decades. He steered the Ind-Suzuki joint venture of the 1980s, the 2001 split from Suzuki, the launch of home-grown models such as the Victor and Apache, and the company's Total Quality Management push that won TVS Motor the Deming Application Prize in 2002. He is now Chairman Emeritus. Venu Srinivasan was born in 1952 in Chennai. Education: University of Madras. Srinivasan was born on December 11, 1952. He is chairman emeritus of TVS Motor Company, serves on the board of Tata Sons, and received the Padma Bhushan in January 2020.
Key Milestones
T.V. Sundaram Iyengar Founds TVS Group: Thirukurungudi Vengaram Sundaram Iyengar founds T.V. Sundaram Iyengar and Sons in Madurai, establishing a well-known transportation, bus fleet, and automotive component empire.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgEstablishment of TVS Motor Plant in Hosur: TVS establishes its two-wheeler manufacturing plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, producing the well-known TVS 50 2-stroke moped, mobilizing millions of Indian rural workers.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgTVS Suzuki Joint Venture Established: Partners with Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation to manufacture modern 100cc Japanese motorcycles in India (TVS-Suzuki AX100 and Samurai).
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAmicable Separation from Suzuki & TVS Victor Launch: TVS and Suzuki amicably buy out joint venture shares; TVS launches the 100% indigenously developed TVS Victor 110cc commuter motorcycle, which becomes a blockbuster hit.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgWorld's First Two-Wheeler Maker to Win the Deming Prize: TVS Motor Company is awarded the Deming Application Prize by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) for total quality management excellence.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLaunch of the TVS Apache Series: Introduces the TVS Apache performance motorcycle, originating from TVS Racing's factory track lineage, which grows into a 5-million-rider global sports franchise.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgBMW Motorrad Strategic Partnership: Signs long-term cooperation agreement with BMW Motorrad to co-develop and manufacture sub-500cc motorcycles (BMW G 310 R, GS, and TVS Apache RR 310) in Hosur.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquisition of Norton Motorcycles (UK): Acquires historic British luxury superbike brand Norton Motorcycles for 16 million, building a modern factory in Solihull, England.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSudarshan Venu becomes managing director
Sudarshan Venu became managing director of TVS Motor in 2022. Under his leadership TVS sold a record 5.89 million vehicles in FY2026 and grew consolidated revenue to ~$6.5 billion (₹56,028 crore).
Source: tvsmotor.comSurpassing 300,000 TVS iQube EV Deliveries: TVS iQube crosses 300,000 cumulative electric scooter sales, establishing TVS as India's top 2 electric two-wheeler manufacturer alongside Ola Electric.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMajor Acquisitions
Norton Motorcycles (UK) Limited
2020In April 2020 TVS Motor bought the brand and assets of Norton Motorcycles, then in administration, for ~$21.1 million (£16 million) in cash.
Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG) & EGO Movement
2022TVS Motor's Singapore subsidiary acquired a controlling stake in Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG) to enter European e-bike retail.
Engines Engineering
2025Establish a Global Centre of Excellence for Design and Engineering.
DriveX
2024Pre-owned two-wheeler space.
Swiss E-Mobility Group
2022Entry into the European e-mobility market.
EGO Movement
2021Premium Swiss lifestyle e-bike brand.
Intellicar
2020Automotive technology focused on fleet management.
Norton Motorcycles
2020Strengthen position in global premium motorcycle segment.
Keep researching TVS Motor
TVS Motor Company History FAQ
When, where, and how was TVS Motor Company originally established?
The TVS corporate lineage began in 1911 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, when T.V. Sundram Iyengar founded a pioneering bus transport company. The modern manufacturing company was established in 1978 with the construction of a two-wheeler plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.
What was the significance of the TVS 50 moped launched in 1980?
Introduced in 1980 under the guidance of Venu Srinivasan, the TVS 50 was India's first two-seater 50cc moped, democratizing affordable personal transportation for millions of rural and suburban families across India.
What was the Ind-Suzuki joint venture of 1982?
In 1982, TVS entered a technical and financial joint venture with Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan (Ind-Suzuki Motorcycles Ltd.), introducing modern, fuel-efficient Japanese motorcycle technology like the AX 100 to the Indian market.
Why did TVS and Suzuki dissolve their joint venture in 2001?
The partners parted amicably in September 2001 because Suzuki wanted to pursue its own independent scooter and car manufacturing in India while TVS sought the freedom to engineer its own proprietary motorcycles and export globally.
How did the TVS Victor motorcycle prove TVS could succeed without Suzuki?
Launched immediately after the Suzuki split in late 2001, the TVS Victor was India's first completely indigenously designed 110cc 4-stroke motorcycle, selling over 40,000 units per month and proving TVS's independent engineering capability.
What was the Deming Application Prize awarded to TVS Motor in 2002?
In 2002, TVS Motor Company became the first two-wheeler manufacturer in the world to be awarded the prestigious Deming Application Prize by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) for excellence in Total Quality Management (TQM).
When was the TVS Apache sports motorcycle launched and what did it achieve?
Launched in 2006, the TVS Apache series applied racetrack engineering from TVS Racing to road motorcycles, becoming an iconic youth performance brand with millions of units sold worldwide across 160cc, 180cc, 200cc, and 310cc variants.
What is the nature of TVS Motor's partnership with BMW Motorrad?
Established in April 2013, the alliance saw TVS co-develop and exclusively manufacture BMW's sub-500cc motorcycle platform (BMW G310R, G310GS, and TVS Apache RR 310) and CE 02 electric urban bikes at its Hosur factory for worldwide export.
Why did TVS acquire the British motorcycle brand Norton in 2020?
In April 2020, TVS acquired historic British luxury motorcycle brand Norton for £16 million in an all-cash deal, rebuilding its Solihull manufacturing facility to target the global ultra-premium superbike market.
When did TVS enter the electric vehicle (EV) segment with the iQube?
TVS launched the iQube electric scooter in January 2020, scaling production and dealership distribution nationwide to become one of India's top electric two-wheeler manufacturers alongside Ola and Bajaj.
Who are the key executive leaders currently driving TVS Motor Company?
Venu Srinivasan serves as Chairman Emeritus, having transitioned executive leadership to his son, Sudarshan Venu, who serves as Chairman and Managing Director, supported by Director & CEO K.N. Radhakrishnan.
How large is TVS Motor Company today in terms of volume and revenue?
In FY2026, TVS Motor sold a record 5.89 million two- and three-wheelers, generating consolidated revenues of approximately ₹56,028 crore (~$6.7 billion USD) with exports reaching over 80 countries worldwide.
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