Hyundai Motor India Elected Tarun Garg as its First Indian MD & CEO

​Hyundai Motor India Limited has marked a historic milestone by appointing Mr. Tarun Garg as its next Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, with effect from January 1, 2026. With this, Garg becomes the first Indian national to be elected for such a leadership position since Hyundai made its debut 29 years ago. This signifies Hyundai’s strong confidence in India's strategic managerial importance in the global automotive market.

At present, Mr. Tarun Garg works full-time as Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO). He will succeed Unsoo Kim, who is returning to South Korea to take on the new strategic role within Hyundai Motor Company. This leadership transformation will highlight Hyundai’s commitment to leveraging local expertise while growing towards an upward trajectory in India.

Key Appointment Details

Mr. Tarun Garg’s appointment comes after his remarkable tenure as COO at Hyundai Motor India Limited. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in driving record sales growth for three consecutive years. In these 3 years, Hyundai showed record-breaking profits and completed India’s largest IPO in 2024. His extensive industry experience spans over three decades, including a distinguished career at Maruti Suzuki India Limited before joining Hyundai.

Endorsement from Hyundai Global Leadership

Speaking about this announcement, Mr. Jose Munoz, President & CEO of HMC, said, “Tarun’s appointment as the first Indian national to lead HMIL is a defining moment in our nearly 3-decade history. He is a transformative leader who brings a progressive vision combined with a deep understanding of the Indian market.”

He later added, "Tarun Garg is a people-first leader who understands that success happens when you treat customers like honored guests, empower your teams, and invest for the long term. We wish him luck on his next assignment.”

Strategic Vision and Future Outlook

Mr. Tarun Garg demands excellence that evolves India’s automotive sector and expressed his commitment to driving HMIL’s growth in this dynamic market. He demonstrated that success in the industry requires a perfect plan, engineering, manufacturing, sales, and service. Garg credited Hyundai’s talented employees, dealer networks, and supplier partners for enabling the company’s achievements and pledged to continue strengthening Hyundai’s legacy of customer loyalty and innovation.

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Broader Impact and Company Direction

With such an honorable position, Garg decided to execute a broader vision to accelerate the brand’s transformation into a smart mobility solutions provider in India. The company is also planning a significant investment of around $5 billion by 2030 to enhance production capabilities and boost research and development efforts. Moreover, 60% of this investment is marked for R&D, showcasing Hyundai’s long-term commitment to innovation in the Indian automotive market.

Conclusion

Tarun Garg’s elevation to MD and CEO symbolizes a new chapter of localized leadership for Hyundai India, aimed at sustaining growth and solidifying the company’s position as a key player in the country’s automotive landscape.