New Delhi: KPIT Technologies founder and chairman of the board S.B. “Ravi” Pandit passed away on May 8 in Pune, the company said in exchange filings. His passing marks a major moment for India’s automotive technology space, where KPIT built its name around software-defined mobility and engineering solutions.

Pandit was more than a business founder. In Indian auto-tech circles, KPIT became a familiar name at a time when cars were slowly turning into computers on wheels. For enthusiasts, that shift matters. Modern vehicles now depend heavily on software for electrification, autonomous features, connected systems, and cleaner mobility tech.

KPIT Technologies exchange filing

KPIT Ravi Pandit: A key name in India’s auto-tech story

Pandit co-founded and chaired KPIT Technologies, a Pune-headquartered company focused on automotive engineering and software-defined mobility. The company has a presence in 15 countries and works on mobility technologies across markets such as the US, Europe, and Asia.

KPIT’s work sits in the part of the auto industry that many buyers may not see directly. It is not about chrome, big wheels, or loud launches. It is about the software and engineering layers that help future cars become smarter, cleaner, and more connected.

Pandit was a gold-medalist chartered accountant and an alumnus of the Sloan School of Management at MIT in the US. He also chaired Kirtane & Pandit Chartered Accountants, an Indian-origin professional services firm with more than 1,200 experts across 15 countries.

His work went beyond boardrooms. He was linked with institutions such as Pune International Centre, Janwani, the Centre for Sustainable Development at Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, and Jnana Prabodhini. He was also associated with clean energy and rural development work, including India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission as a private-sector member of its Empowered Group.

For car fans, KPIT’s story connects with the future of vehicles. Software-defined mobility means cars are being shaped by code, sensors, electrification, and energy systems. That is where Pandit’s company found its space.

He was also the co-author of the award-winning book “Leapfrogging to Pole-Vaulting” and a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy.