Hyundai Motor India Appoints First-Ever Indian CEO; Tarun Garg to Take Helm in 2026

New Delhi: In a landmark move, the board of Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has approved the elevation of Chief Operating Officer (COO) Tarun Garg to the position of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026. This appointment marks a significant milestone as Garg will be the first Indian to lead the South Korean auto major’s Indian subsidiary.

The decision, made as part of a succession plan, was confirmed in a regulatory filing by the company late Tuesday night. Garg will succeed the current MD & CEO, Unsoo Kim, who is set to return to a strategic role at Hyundai Motor Company headquarters in South Korea from December 31, 2025.

Currently serving as the Wholetime Director and COO, Garg will assume the role of MD & CEO Designate in the interim period leading up to his official takeover, which is subject to shareholder approval.

Before joining HMIL, Garg had a long and distinguished career at rival Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, where he started as a management trainee and rose through the ranks to become the Executive Director of Marketing, Logistics, Parts, and Accessories.