Hyundai Motor India Limited has appointed Tarun Garg as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026, marking the first time an Indian national will lead the company since it entered the market nearly three decades ago.
The appointment, announced by the company, is a significant leadership milestone for Hyundai, which began operations in India in 1996 and has since built the country into one of its largest global markets.
Garg succeeds the outgoing leadership at a time when Hyundai Motor Group is sharpening its focus on India as a growth and export hub. The move also reflects a broader shift towards greater localisation of leadership in multinational automotive firms operating in the country.
Garg brings more than 32 years of experience in the automotive sector, spanning sales, marketing, distribution, finance, product strategy and brand building. He has been closely associated with Hyundai Motor India’s recent growth phase, having served as Head of Sales, Service and Marketing, and later as Whole-time Director and Chief Operating Officer.
During this period, Hyundai Motor India recorded its highest-ever sales for three consecutive years and posted record profitability and EBITDA margins, the company said. Garg also played a key role in steering the company through its initial public offering in 2024, which Reuters reported was the largest IPO in Indian capital market history.
As MD and CEO, Garg will be responsible for leading Hyundai Motor India’s next phase of expansion, with a focus on future mobility. The company has committed to investing ₹45,000 crore by FY2030 to scale up electric and hybrid vehicles, connected technologies and supporting infrastructure.
His mandate will also include strengthening Hyundai’s dealer and supplier network, increasing localisation across manufacturing operations, and reinforcing India’s role as an export base for emerging markets under the group’s global manufacturing strategy.
Before joining Hyundai, Garg spent several years at Maruti Suzuki India, where he rose to Executive Director and oversaw functions including marketing, logistics, and parts and accessories. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from Delhi Technological University and an MBA from IIM Lucknow.
With Garg’s elevation, Hyundai Motor India is expected to balance continuity with sharper execution as competition intensifies in India’s automotive market, particularly in electric vehicles and SUVs. How effectively the company converts its investment plans into market leadership will be closely watched over the coming years.