Popular Group

Popular Group

LEADERSHIP TEAM

George K Saju

Director

George K Saju - Leadership Team - Popular Group

George K. Saju is the younger son of Mr. Saju K. Thomas and holds a Masters in Management from the EU Business School in Barcelona, earned in September 2019. He joined the family business in October 2019, shortly after completing his education. As a director within the Popular Group, George has been a key figure in overseeing the dealership operations for Toyota, Lexus, Bajaj, KTM, and Harley Davidson in Bangalore and Chennai. His involvement and leadership have been instrumental in expanding the group’s presence and enhancing operational efficiencies in these regions. 

“A business is only as good as the people who make it. Great business ideas can fail if people working with the business do not have a sense of ownership”

Mr. Saju K Thomas

Chairman And Managing Director

Meet Our Leadership Team

Chairman And Managing Director

Director

Executive Director
Toyota & Lexus Dealership

Vice President
Human Resources

Vice President
Finance & Accounts

Our Journey

Mahindra - Popular Group
2024

We sign up for a dealership with the Mahindra Group for Mahindra passenger vehicles in Kerala.

Luxe Cars, DART, Stride Cars - Popular Group
2023

PMV changes gears and launches a slew on new platforms and brands, expanding our outlook in the automotive space. Luxe Cars is launched to bring pre-owned luxury cars to those who love them.



We foray into the multi-brand four-wheeler after-sales service segment through DART.



A key expansion segment is tapped for digital transformation services, to bring the power of cloud to industry segments that can benefit immensely from DX services.



Our Uber operations and employee mobility solutions also come into play.

Popular Motor Ventures - Popular Group
2022

We take strides into new businesses with the establishment of Popular Motor Ventures. A new-age firm with an incubation-led approach, the first venture incubated within PMV is Bhrighu, our foray into EdTech.

Harley Davidson - Popular Group
2018

A new chapter in geographical diversification begins.
We expand beyond our time-tested territories of Kerala and Karnataka to Tamil Nadu through not one but two dealerships.

We establish Popular Bajaj at Chennai to serve the customers of Bajaj Auto in Chennai.

In the same year, we establish ‘Marina Harley Davidson’ the dealership for Harley Davidson Motorcycles in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Popular JCB - Popular Group
2014

We continue to build on our 24-year long relationship with Bajaj Auto through dealerships for KTM & Kawasaki motorcycles at Allepey, Kochi.

This is also the year that we venture into the territory of construction equipment with the dealership for JCB India Ltd. for their earthmoving, construction, and industrial equipment in central and south Kerala as Popular JCB.

Popular Bajaj - Popular Group
2013

The new relationship grows with KTM and Kawasaki dealerships being established by us in Bangalore, Karnataka, and Kochi, Kerala.

Popular KTM - Popular Group
2012

The Austrian motorcycling giant, KTM, enters India through a joint-venture with Bajaj Auto and we established the first dealership for the brand in Mysore, Karnataka.
At the same time, we also get into a partnership as dealers for Kawasaki motorcycles in Mysore, Karnataka. The brand had entered the India market in 2009,

Popular Bajaj - Popular Group
2010

A new dealership for Bajaj Auto at Mysore comes into existence, strengthening a relationship with the brand that now spans over 20 years.

Popular Bajaj - Popular Group
2005

The group continues to expand in the two-wheelers market with the dealership for Bajaj Auto at Alleppey in Kerala.

Popular Hyundai - Popular Group
2004

A new partnership with Hyundai India is established as “Popular Hyundai” under the banner of Popular Motor World Pvt. Ltd. in Kochi, Kerala. The partnership also brings ‘H-Promise’ certified used cars business to the group in Kerala.

Our Journey - Popular Group
2002

A new beginning unfolds.
Mr. Saju K Thomas establishes “Popular Group” under the banner of ‘Popular Motor Corporation (PMC)’ in Bangalore.
The group begins with dealerships for Bajaj Auto at Cochin in Kerala & Bangalore in Karnataka.

The seasoned entrepreneur in Mr. Thomas dons the role of a new entrepreneur, 20 years after building a huge business.

Tata Motors - Popular Group
2000

The group takes great strides under the leadership of Mr. Thomas and establishes the dealership for TATA Commercial Vehicles under the banner of “Popular Mega Motors India Limited”.
By 2000, the Kuttukaran Group under the leadership of Mr. Saju K Thomas has grown in the automobile retail sector to a turnover of Rs. 300 crores and an employee strength of 2,600.

Nandi Toyota - Popular Group
1999

With a decade of delivering value to the brand and excellent customer service to customers of Bajaj, the group diversifies into the four-wheeler market with its first dealership for Toyota passenger cars under the firm “Motor World Limited,” popularly known as Nandi Toyota, in Bangalore. The dealership is also home to “Toyota U Trust” to offer certified used cars to our customers.
A relationship that was kindled in 1984 comes home in a big way in 1999.

Popular Bajaj - Popular Group
1990

The first partnership with Bajaj Two & Three Wheeler divisions begins with dealerships at Kochi. The partnership is later expanded to Bangalore in 1995.

Our Journey - Popular Group
1988

Yet another innovative product is launched by PVS under Mr. Thomas - Kuttukaran Leasing and Investment Ltd., an NBFC to help two-wheeler customers buy the vehicle of their dreams through easy financing options.

Nandi Toyota - Popular Group
1984

Mr. Thomas played a pivotal role in established DCM Toyota LCV dealership in Kerala. This was also the beginning of a longstanding relationship with Toyota, over the years.

Maruti - Popular Group
1983

Popular Vehicles and Services Ltd. (PVS) is formed with Mr. Thomas as the Managing Director. Mr. Thomas brings in a professional method of delivering customer experience with the “Popular Unlimited Car Care Package”. This approach was recognised by Maruti Udyog as a unique after-sales initiative.
In the years to follow, PVS becomes the largest dealer for Maruti vehicles in India, selling around 8,000 vehicles and servicing 75,000 every year.

Popular Group - Our Journey
1980

Mr. Saju K Thomas joins the family business at the “Kuttukaran” Group. The group had interests in automobile spare parts (Popular Automobiles), engineering equipment (Popular Mill Stores), engine rebuilding (Popular Garage), and automotive machine manufacturing unit (Kuttukaran Machine Tools) with a strong presence in South India, Delhi & Bombay.

Popular Group - Our Journey
1944

Popular Automobiles is established, procuring surplus military vehicle parts after World War II

Popular Group - Our Journey
1941

The family diversifies its business to enter the tire & tube vulcanizing, and battery restoration businesses

Our Journey - Popular Group
1939

Our story begins with Popular Washing Home, a laundry service

Our Businesses

Popular Motor Corporation

Popular Motor Corporation (PMC) was established in 2002 with transfer of the Popular Bajaj dealership from Popular Vehicles and Services Ltd., encompassing operations in both Kerala and Karnataka.

In 2014, PMC achieved another milestone by securing the dealership for KTM Two-wheelers. Furthermore, during the same year, PMC was granted the prestigious JCB dealership, which encompassed the distribution of earthmoving, industrial, and construction equipment across nine districts in Central and South Kerala.

Motor World Private Limited - Nandi Toyota

Incorporated in 1999, Motor World Limited started as a dealer for Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited, encompassing their comprehensive range of passenger cars. Commencing its business operations in January 2000, the company established a 3S facility located at Kudulu Gate, Hosur Road, Bangalore. Subsequently, it expanded its footprint with the addition of a 1S facility at Museum Road and another 3S facility at Kanakpura Road, Bangalore. 

Today, the company operates three showrooms and boasts an impressive average monthly sales volume of 600 vehicles, capturing a substantial market share of 42%. Supporting its clientele, the company maintains six service centers, servicing approximately 375 vehicles daily. In addition to vehicle sales, the company also offers Toyota parts and accessories and retails Toyota certified used cars through Toyota U Trust, providing a comprehensive automotive solution to its valued customers.

Popular Motor World Private Limited - Popular Hyundai

As one of the distinguished Hyundai dealerships in the nation since 2003, Popular Hyundai operates across the picturesque state of Kerala, encompassing the districts of Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Alapuzha, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Calicut, and Malappuram.

In 2011, Hyundai Motor India Limited honored us with our sixth dealership, situated in Perinthalmanna within the Malappuram District, further expanding our presence. At present, we are privileged to operate seven Hyundai dealerships, making us the exclusive group with this distinction across India.

Popular Motor Ventures

Popular Motor Ventures (PMV) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Popular Group, building growth engines for the group in the extended market opportunities in the automotive space. Through PMV, the group is expanding into the entire value chain associated with the automobile market – pre-owned luxury cars, multi-brand automotive servicing solutions and establishing technology services and platforms firm based on data analytics for the industry, are a few such initiatives undertaken by PMV.

East-Coast Motors - Marina Harley-Davidson

Marina Harley-Davidson is a distinguished destination that celebrates the iconic Harley-Davidson brand and motorcycle culture. Our world-class showroom features the latest Harley-Davidson motorcycles, each a testament to the brand’s legacy of innovation and craftsmanship. We are a registered partnership firm, operating under the provisions of the Partnership Act of 1932. Our primary focus is to oversee the dealership business on behalf of HD Motor Company India Private Limited, encompassing their comprehensive lineup of Harley Davidson Motorcycles in the state of Tamil Nadu.