Hyundai preps COO Garg to take over as India boss

Hyundai Motor Co. is set to elevate its India chief operations officer (COO) Tarun Garg as managing director and chief executive of its domestic unit, an executive directly aware of the plan said.

- Ayaan Kartik

Garg would be the first Indian to lead Hyundai Motor India, at a time the Korean giant is fighting to keep its No.2 position in the Indian car market.

Garg is expected to take the helm around the inauguration of Hyundai’s new Talegaon plant in Maharashtra, the executive said on the condition of anonymity. The facility is slated to begin producing 250,000 units within the next three years, with its opening likely in the final quarter of 2025.

“The strategy is part of Hyundai’s ongoing plan to promote non-Koreans into leadership positions in foreign markets where it has a significant presence,” the executive said. This push began with the appointment of Jose Munoz as the first non-Korean President of Hyundai in January, following his tenure as global COO since April 2019.

With the company eyeing an India hand to lead its operations, the global management led by Munoz narrowed down on Garg, who joined Hyundai in December 2019 as director of sales. He was promoted as COO in January 2023, where he was working closely with Munoz.

Hyundai Motor India declined to comment. “What may or may not happen in the future is purely speculative and as a listed company, we do not comment on speculation.