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The India Hand: Inside Satyakam Arya's Journey to Leading Japan's Hino Motors

From Faridabad's industrial lanes to Tokyo's automotive boardrooms, Satyakam Arya's rise to the top of Hino Motors reflects the growing global relevance of Indian manufacturing leadership and the evolution of India's commercial vehicle industry.

By Shahkar Abidi and Ketan Thakkar

17 Jun 2026

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The India Hand: Inside Satyakam Arya's Journey to Leading Japan's Hino Motors

The conversation lasted barely a few minutes. A corridor inside Daimler's sprawling Chennai operations. A passing exchange with Marc Llistosella, the expat CEO then building BharatBenz's India business from the ground up. "You did a good job. You should come to Japan."

The year was 2013-14; Arya along with Llistosella had established BharatBenz as a credible alternative to prospective Indian truck buyers who were looking for a modern trucking solution. The highly indigenised range with strong local content ensured Daimler Truck was able to seed itself in a market where many had to eat humble pie. Arya had a ...

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