SB Ravi Pandit: Architect Behind KPIT's Global Expansion in Auto-Tech Industry

Entrepreneur and Visionary SB Ravi Pandit Passes Away at 71

SB Ravi Pandit, the renowned entrepreneur who played a pivotal role in shaping India's automotive software industry, passed away in Pune on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the age of 71. Pandit was the founder and chairman of the board of KPIT Technologies, a global mobility engineering player that has operations in 15 countries.

Pandit co-founded KPIT in 1990 with Kishor Patil, initially under the name KPIT Cummins. Under his leadership, the company evolved into one of India's most recognized automotive software companies, providing engineering and mobility solutions to automakers across North America, Europe, and Asia. He steered the company towards next-generation technologies, including electrification, software-led vehicle architecture, autonomous systems, and clean mobility solutions.

As a trained chartered accountant and alumnus of the MIT Sloan School of Management, Pandit also played a significant role in professional services through Kirtane and Pandit Chartered Accountants. Under his leadership, the firm expanded internationally and became one of the largest Indian-origin professional services networks, employing over 1,200 professionals globally.

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Pandit's contributions extended beyond the corporate world into policy, sustainability, and civic leadership. He was a founder of the Pune International Centre and Janwani, initiatives aimed at strengthening policy dialogue and urban governance. He also supported academic work on sustainable development through the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics.

Pandit served on the boards of Thermax, World Resources Institute India, and the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India, while also leading the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture and contributing to several committees of the Confederation of Indian Industry.

In recent years, Pandit became a strong advocate for the clean energy transition. He was the only private-sector member on India's empowered group for the National Green Hydrogen Mission and had been promoting the "HRIDAY" initiative focused on hydrogen-led rural transformation.

A fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, Pandit received honorary doctorates from institutions including Coventry University and Amity University. He co-authored the award-winning book Leapfrogging to Pole-vaulting, a reflection of his enduring belief in innovation-led growth and sustainable development.

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