Vladimir Jaskirat Singh Nagra’s journey from electronics engineer to automobile developer is one of engineering brilliance, passion, and tenacity. Nagra was raised in a military household and moved throughout cities as his father was assigned. He remembers, “In 12 classes, I have changed 10 schools on record.” His degree in electronics and telecommunication from Indore exposed him to engineering at a young age, but mechanical engineering was always his first choice.
Turning passion into a business
He acknowledges that becoming a mechanical engineer was always his natural ambition. “I used to spend my weekends off-roading, modifying, and tinkering with cars.” He left his professional job in 2015 to start his own automobile business because of this growing interest.
Beginning with minor adjustments for off-road aficionados, Nagra soon established a reputation. “I built a few Mahindra Jeeps and Gypsies, but I wanted to do something really different.” Extreme off-road vehicles were created as a result, and they quickly became well-known in races.
In reference to the esteemed off-road motorsport competition, he states, “At our peak, out of 40 vehicles participating in the Rainforest Challenge India, 22 were built by us.”
A joint venture to manufacture specialized mobility vehicles resulted from his work attracting the interest of a Ukrainian corporation looking for an Indian partner. He says, “We saw the potential for military use.” “I understood the requirements of defense mobility because of my father’s Army experience.”
The breakthrough: Supplying the Indian Army
Following extensive testing and trials, Nagra’s business was awarded a contract to provide specialized mobility vehicles to the Indian Army. An indigenous variant of the Ukrainian SHERP N1200, a high-mobility amphibious all-terrain vehicle (ATV) built for harsh environments, is the SMV N1200, also known as the ATOR N1200. Recently, the vehicle—which can travel across water, marshes, snow, and rough terrain—was incorporated into the Indian Army.
“It can go where regular vehicles can not because of its extremely low nominal ground pressure,” explains Nagra.
A dream realised: Republic Day Parade
Being a part of the Republic Day Parade with his car was one of Nagra’s proudest moments. He recalls, “I used to imagine it on Rajpath.” And I was shocked in 2024 when Army Headquarters requested that we provide a car for the parade. It fulfilled a lifelong dream.
Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs
There have been difficulties along the way. He claims, “I started late, at 44.” However, if you have a dream, hold onto it. All dreams have their time. You should not give up just because the situation does not permit it just now.
He stresses the need of resilience. He suggests, “Take a break, reorganize, and return with the same spirit. Failure is exhausting.” People typically live out someone else’s vision. Follow your path and pay attention to your heart.
On Chandigarh: A city of pride and planning
Nagra, which has a strong bond with Chandigarh, values its well-organized design. “The fact that Chandigarh is a very well-planned city is one thing I adore about it,” he says. “And I respect the pride its people have in maintaining its beauty and distinctiveness.”
