Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has named Tarun Garg as its next Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, in a move that marks a historic shift for the company. Garg, who takes charge from January 1, 2026, will be the first Indian to lead the automaker in its 29-year presence in the country, according to a company statement. The appointment reflects Hyundai Motor Company’s growing confidence in India’s leadership talent and underscores the increasing importance of its Indian operations in the group’s global strategy. Garg currently serves as Whole-time Director and Chief Operating Officer, and will succeed Unsoo Kim, who will move to a strategic position at Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea after the transition.
Announcing the appointment, José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, said Garg’s elevation marked “a defining moment” for the group. “Under his guidance as COO, HMIL achieved record sales for three consecutive years, record-breaking profits and completed India’s largest IPO in 2024,” he said.
Unsoo Kim, the outgoing Managing Director, said Garg’s “visionary thinking and commitment” had been central to shaping HMIL’s core growth initiatives. Garg, in his statement, said he was “deeply honoured by the trust and confidence placed in me by Hyundai Motor Group” and that his focus would be on design, engineering, manufacturing and customer service to drive HMIL’s continued growth.
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Four-pillar strategy for future growth
As Managing Director and CEO, Garg’s leadership will be built on four core pillars – Future Strategy Focused, Market and People Centred, Customer Orientation, and Make in India. The company said these principles would guide Hyundai’s vision to strengthen local manufacturing, enhance customer satisfaction and establish India as a global hub for exports and innovation.
At its first Investor Day in Mumbai on October 15, HMIL outlined a Rs 45,000 crore investment roadmap through FY2030 to power its next phase of growth in India. The plan includes 26 new product launches – seven of them brand-new models – alongside entry into the MPV and off-road SUV segments. Hyundai also plans to manufacture India’s first dedicated electric SUV by 2027 and introduce its luxury brand Genesis the same year, signalling a wider push into premium and sustainable mobility. By the end of the decade, Hyundai aims to capture more than 15 per cent of India’s passenger vehicle market.
