New Delhi: Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Tarun Garg as its managing director and chief executive officer, marking the first time an Indian national has taken charge of the Korean automaker’s India operations since its inception nearly three decades ago.
Garg assumed office with effect from January 1, 2026, at a time when India has emerged as a key growth and manufacturing hub for Hyundai Motor Group globally. The company said the leadership transition reflects the group’s confidence in Indian leadership and the country’s rising strategic importance in the global automotive landscape.
With over 32 years of experience in the automotive industry, Garg brings deep expertise across sales, marketing, distribution, finance and product strategy. During his tenure at HMIL as head of sales, service and marketing, and later as whole-time director and chief operating officer, the company recorded three consecutive years of record sales, achieved its highest-ever profitability and EBITDA margins, and successfully executed India’s largest IPO in 2024.
Under Garg’s leadership, HMIL will focus on future-ready mobility solutions, including electric vehicles, hybrids and connected technologies, backed by a planned investment of ₹45,000 crore by FY2030. The company said its strategy will rest on four pillars—accelerating new-age mobility, strengthening dealer and supplier networks, deepening customer-centricity, and reinforcing the ‘Make in India, Made for the World’ approach by positioning India as an export hub for emerging markets.
“India’s automotive industry is at an exciting inflection point driven by innovation, sustainability and evolving customer aspirations,” Garg said, adding that the company would continue to strengthen its manufacturing and export capabilities while aligning with Hyundai Motor Group’s global vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’.
Prior to joining Hyundai, Garg spent over two decades at Maruti Suzuki India, where he rose to the position of executive director overseeing marketing, logistics, parts and accessories. A mechanical engineer from Delhi Technological University and an MBA from IIM Lucknow, he is seen as a leader with a blend of technical depth and commercial acumen.
Industry watchers said the appointment signals Hyundai’s intent to localise leadership as competition intensifies in India’s passenger vehicle market, especially in SUVs and electric mobility, where global and domestic players are stepping up investments and product launches.