Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, April 2025 — Navaneetha Navakana has been appointed as Vice President & Head of Department (Vehicle Development – Functions, Driving Experience & Integration) at Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI). In this pivotal role, he will lead the organization’s efforts to advance vehicle functionality, driving experience, and engineering integration across the luxury automobile segment.
Navaneetha has been an integral part of MBRDI for nearly 15 years, holding various senior leadership positions across key domains. Most recently, he served as Vice President, overseeing Vehicle & Drive Systems Functions and Simulation, and earlier led the Chassis Systems and Processes department for passenger cars and vans. His work has been instrumental in driving innovation in vehicle dynamics, system simulation, and integration strategies within the Mercedes-Benz ecosystem.
Before his tenure at MBRDI, Navaneetha gained significant industry experience with GeometricPLM as a Project Manager, where he managed engineering development and pre-sales functions. He also held a key leadership role at Meritor as Group Leader, contributing to quality management and technical development in commercial vehicle systems.
An alumnus of the University of Mysore, where he earned his Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, Navaneetha also holds a Master’s in Quality Management from BITS Pilani. His unique combination of deep technical knowledge, leadership acumen, and dedication to continuous innovation positions him to elevate MBRDI’s efforts in shaping the future of premium mobility solutions.
In his new capacity, Navaneetha will be responsible for aligning vehicle function development with customer-centric driving experiences, championing functional integration, and driving MBRDI’s vision of sustainable, digital-first automotive engineering.
About Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India:
Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) is the largest R&D centre for Mercedes-Benz Group AG outside of Germany. With a legacy of 27+ years, MBRDI plays a critical role in the development of connected, autonomous, shared, and electric mobility technologies. Employing over 8,500 professionals, MBRDI is at the forefront of engineering excellence, digitalisation, and innovation. Rooted in diversity, inclusion, and collaboration, MBRDI is shaping the future of sustainable mobility.
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