Hyundai Motor India has made history by appointing Tarun Garg as its new managing director and CEO, becoming the first Indian national to head the company in its 29-year presence in the country. He officially took charge on January 1.
The move signals Hyundai’s confidence in Indian leadership as it enters the next phase of growth in one of its most important global markets.
In a stock exchange filing, Hyundai Motor India said this is the first time an Indian executive has been appointed as MD and CEO of its India operations. The company described the appointment as a key step in leading Hyundai’s “second phase of growth” in India.
Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO Jose Munoz had announced Garg’s appointment in October 2025, calling him a “transformative leader” with a deep understanding of the Indian market.
Tarun Garg is a seasoned auto industry professional with nearly three decades of experience. He began his career in 1994 at Maruti Suzuki India as deputy manager –logistics.
Over the years, he rose steadily through the ranks: became national sales head in 2010; later served as executive director-marketing; spent nearly 26 years at Maruti Suzuki before exiting in 2019.
In December 2019, Garg joined Hyundai Motor India as director --sales, marketing and service. His strong performance saw him promoted to chief operating officer (COO) in January 2023. He held this role until his elevation to MD and CEO.
Tarun Garg holds a BTech in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in Marketing from IIM Lucknow, which he completed in 1994.
Under Garg’s leadership, Hyundai Motor India plans to step up investments and innovation. The company has announced an investment of ₹45,000 crore by 2030, with a clear focus on: Electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid models and connected mobility technologies.
Hyundai also aims to strengthen its dealer and supplier networks and further improve the overall customer experience.
“My vision is to build on our strong foundation while accelerating Hyundai Motor India’s transformation towards sustainable growth, technological leadership and unmatched customer delight,” Garg said in an official statement.
With this appointment, Hyundai is clearly betting on local leadership to steer its India strategy in an increasingly competitive auto market.
