Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has announced the appointment of Tarun Garg as its next Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026, subject to shareholder approval. This milestone marks a defining moment in the automaker’s nearly three-decade journey, as Garg becomes the first Indian national to lead Hyundai Motor India since its inception 29 years ago.
Currently serving as the Whole-time Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Garg has been instrumental in driving Hyundai’s growth strategy, strengthening brand equity, and enhancing operational excellence across the organisation. He has worked closely with global leadership over the past two years in preparation for this elevation.
Following a seamless transition, Unsoo Kim, the incumbent Managing Director, will move to a strategic role at Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) in South Korea. The appointment of Garg reflects Hyundai’s strong confidence in India’s leadership talent and underscores the country’s growing strategic importance within the global automotive landscape.
Commenting on the announcement, José Muñoz, President & CEO, Hyundai Motor Company, said, “Tarun’s appointment as the first Indian national to lead HMIL marks a defining moment in our three-decade journey. A transformative, people-first leader, he brings strategic vision and deep market understanding. Under his guidance, HMIL achieved record sales, profits, and India’s largest IPO in 2024. We thank Unsoo for his leadership and wish him success in his next role.”
Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, HMIL, added, “Tarun’s visionary approach and commitment have been instrumental in driving HMIL’s growth. I’m confident that under his leadership, the company will reach even greater heights.”
Expressing his gratitude, Tarun Garg said, “I’m honoured to lead Hyundai Motor India at such a pivotal time for the automotive industry. Together with our teams, dealer partners, and suppliers, we will continue to strengthen Hyundai’s legacy of customer trust and innovation in India.”
As MD and CEO, Garg will focus on four strategic pillars — Future-focused strategy, People-centric growth, Customer orientation, and strengthening the Make-in-India vision. These priorities aim to champion customer satisfaction, expand localization, enhance value through a robust supply chain, and position India as a global export and innovation hub.
During his tenure as COO, Garg led HMIL to its highest-ever sales for three consecutive years, delivered record profits, and achieved the highest EBITDA margin in FY24. He played a central role in Hyundai’s landmark IPO in 2024, the largest in India’s equity market history. His leadership in digital transformation introduced initiatives such as the MyHyundai app, HSMART dealer platform, and a direct-to-consumer channel for EVs, significantly improving customer engagement and achieving over 90% NPS across sales and service.
Beyond business achievements, Garg is recognized for his people-first leadership and commitment to community impact. He launched ‘Samarth by Hyundai’, an initiative promoting inclusion and awareness for people with disabilities in India, aligning closely with Hyundai Motor Group’s global vision of ‘Progress for Humanity.’
Garg joined Hyundai Motor India in 2019 as Head of Sales, Service, and Marketing. His exceptional performance led to his promotion as COO in 2023, expanding his responsibilities across all operations. Before joining Hyundai, he had a distinguished career at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, where he rose through various leadership roles — from Regional Sales Manager to Executive Director of Marketing, Logistics, Parts, and Accessories.
An engineer by training, Garg holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Delhi Technological University (formerly Delhi College of Engineering) and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow, among India’s most prestigious business schools.
Garg’s elevation symbolises a new chapter for Hyundai Motor India, reflecting its continued confidence in Indian leadership and its vision to blend global excellence with local insight to shape the future of mobility.