Tarun Garg formally took charge as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on 1 January 2026, marking the first time an Indian national has led the company since its founding 29 years ago. The appointment, approved by HMIL’s board in October, completes a planned succession and follows Garg’s elevation from the role of Chief Operating Officer.
Garg succeeds Unsoo Kim, who will return to a strategic position at Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea. HMIL described the leadership change as evidence of Hyundai Motor Group’s trust in India’s management talent and the country’s growing strategic role in the global automotive sector.
Tarun Garg Hyundai Motor India to drive ‘Make in India, Made for the World’
As MD & CEO, Garg will pursue a future-ready strategy built on four main pillars: people and market focus, a customer-centric approach, and a renewed push for ‘Make in India, Made for the World’. The company said his brief will centre on accelerating sustainable growth, strengthening technological capabilities and enhancing customer satisfaction across India and export markets.
With more than three decades of experience in the automotive industry, Garg brings operational knowledge of manufacturing, sales and aftersales services. His immediate priorities include scaling investments in electric and hybrid vehicles, expanding connected-mobility offerings, and boosting localisation to improve competitiveness.
HMIL has already outlined a capital plan of ₹45,000 crore by fiscal year 2030 to support those aims, with a focus on electric vehicles, hybrids and connected technologies. The investment is intended to deepen supply-chain development in India and expand production capacity for both domestic sales and exports.
Industry analysts said the leadership change is likely to reinforce HMIL’s commitment to India as a manufacturing hub. A local chief executive is expected to strengthen ties with suppliers, policymakers and customers, and may accelerate decision-making on product launches and localisation efforts.
Commenting on his new role, Garg said his vision is to build on HMIL’s existing foundation while guiding the company through a transformation toward sustainable growth and technological leadership. He emphasised the importance of creating mobility solutions that improve everyday life for customers and communities.
Hyundai Motor India will maintain alignment with Hyundai Motor Company’s global strategy while tailoring products and services to Indian market dynamics. The move underlines the group’s confidence in India not only as a large market but also as an export base for competitively priced and technologically advanced vehicles.
Garg’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the Indian auto sector, which is undergoing rapid change as manufacturers shift toward electrification, software-driven services and higher local content. For HMIL, the new leadership is expected to prioritise product line-ups that respond to evolving customer preferences and regulatory trends.
Effective immediately, the change at the top positions Hyundai Motor India to press ahead with its stated investments and to pursue greater integration with global R&D and manufacturing networks. The company will aim to translate capital commitments into new models, charging infrastructure initiatives and partnerships that support India’s transition to cleaner mobility.
Garg’s tenure will be watched closely by investors, suppliers and rivals alike as HMIL moves into its second phase of growth in India.
Key Takeaways:
- Tarun Garg assumed charge as MD & CEO of Hyundai Motor India on 1 January 2026, the first Indian to hold the post in HMIL’s 29-year history.
- Garg will focus on a four-pillar strategy emphasising people, market focus, customer centricity and ‘Make in India, Made for the World’.
- Hyundai Motor India plans investments of ₹45,000 crore by FY30 to accelerate EVs, hybrids and connected mobility, signalling stronger localisation and export ambitions.
- The appointment of Tarun Garg Hyundai Motor India reflects Hyundai Motor Group’s confidence in India’s strategic importance.
