15 Minutes with the Boss Why the CEO of BMW Australia wants you to take a ‘sleep test’
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Apr 6, 2026 Vikram Pawah, chief exec of BMW Australia & NZ and former Honda veteran, talks electrification and leadership. He describes driving BMW’s i7 M70 and how the fuel crisis is driving renewed interest in EVs. Conversation also touches on AI in cars, career pivots like his MBA, decision rituals and a near‑miss IT rollout.
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Fuel Crisis Is Accelerating EV Interest
- The Iran war–fuel crisis has sparked renewed customer interest in electric vehicles for both new and used markets.
- Vikram Pawah says BMW Australia already sold 20% fully electric cars last year and is seeing increased EV enquiries since the oil shock.
EV Adoption Hinges On Experience And Crisis Length
- Permanent consumer behaviour change depends on crisis duration and positive EV experience.
- Pawah compares COVID consumption shifts and says adoption rises when customers try EVs, like-for-like use cases work, and the experience is good.
MBA Sabbatical Changed Career Trajectory
- A management training prompted Pawah to take a sabbatical for an MBA in Australia, which shifted his career perspective without changing employer.
- He returned to Honda in Australia after the MBA and later moved on to roles across functions and companies.