Produced by: Manoj Kumar
In 1911, before India had roads worth the name, one Madurai man rolled out buses. That small start? It became TVS—now a global auto empire with ties to Tesla and turnover topping ₹80,000 crore.
When World War II choked petrol supply, TVS didn’t stall—they built gas plants that ran cars on charcoal. 12,000 sold. India’s wartime innovation had a backyard hero.
T.V. Sundaram Iyengar began in courtrooms and railways. But his real legacy was built on wheels—buses, lorries, logistics, and one of India’s oldest family-run business empires.
When the TVS empire split among sons in the 1970s, there was no courtroom clash or media circus. Just clean succession. A family business masterclass, Indian style.
From a rural bus service to supplying Tesla, the journey of TVS is an India-to-the-world tale—with a quiet, disciplined punch. No hype. Just horsepower.
Way before HR was a thing, Iyengar built homes, hospitals, and schools for staff. His companies didn’t just run vehicles—they ran on loyalty.
90+ companies. 60,000+ employees. 60 countries. But you won’t find the TVS family in headlines. Their model? Low-profile, high-impact legacy building.
His daughter wasn’t just a doctor—she was a Gandhian activist and reformer. The TVS story isn’t just about money. It’s about mission.
Tyre shortage? No problem. TVS pioneered rubber retreading in India, keeping wheels turning when others stopped. Necessity met genius in a Madurai factory.