L-R: Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India; Jose Munoz, President & CEO, Hyundai Motor Company and Tarun Garg, Whole-time Director & COO, Hyundai Motor India.

Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced the appointment of Tarun Garg as its next Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2026, subject to shareholder approval.

This makes Garg the first Indian national to take on this leadership role in the company since Hyundai Motor India’s establishment 29 years ago.

Garg currently serves as the Whole-time Director and COO of HMIL, and will succeed Unsoo Kim, who is set to return to a strategic role at Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), South Korea.

Jose Munoz, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company, said, “Tarun’s appointment as the first Indian national to lead HMIL is a defining moment in our nearly three-decade history. He is a transformative leader who brings a progressive vision combined with deep understanding of the Indian market. Under his guidance as COO, HMIL achieved record sales for three consecutive years, record-breaking profits and completed India's largest IPO in 2024. He is a people-first leader who understands that success happens when you treat customers like honoured guests, empower your teams and invest for the long term. I would also like to thank Unsoo for his hard work and dedication in helping lay the foundation for the success HMIL enjoys today. We wish you luck on your next assignment.”

Unsoo Kim, said, “Having worked closely with Tarun over the years, I have witnessed firsthand his unwavering commitment and visionary thinking, qualities that have played a pivotal role in shaping and executing the core initiatives driving HMIL’s growth in India. I hold the utmost confidence in Tarun’s exceptional intellect and foresight, and I am confident that under his stewardship, HMIL will continue to ascend to even greater heights.”

Commenting on his elevation, Garg, expressed, “I am deeply honoured by the trust and confidence placed in me by Hyundai Motor Group. India’s automotive sector is in an exciting phase of transformation and I aim to contribute to HMIL’s continued growth in this market by stepping into this role. Success in this industry demands excellence across every touchpoint, from design and engineering to manufacturing, sales and service and I am fortunate to work alongside Hyundai’s talented employees, dealer partners and supplier partners who make it all possible. Together, we will stay focused on strengthening HMIL’s legacy of customer delight and loyalty built over past 29 years, ensuring our journey continues to shape the future of mobility and build lasting connections in India.”

Going forward, Garg’s focus will be on four key pillars: Future Strategy Focussed, Market & People Centred, Customer Orientation and further Impetus to Make in India. This strategy will aim to strengthen customer satisfaction, build a supply chain and establish India as a global export hub for mobility solutions.

Garg has over three decades of industry experience and had been instrumental to lead Hyundai Motor India to its highest-ever sales for three consecutive years, delivered record-breaking profits and achieved the highest EBITDA margin in FY2024. He was the Chief Orchestrator of HMIL’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2024, which was the largest public offering in the history of the Indian equity markets.

He is also credited to have spearheaded digital transformation through the MyHyundai app for customers and HSMART for dealers. He also launched “Samarth by Hyundai,” an initiative for people with disabilities in India.

Prior to joining Hyundai Motor India in 2019, Garg held roles at Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), including Executive Director of Marketing, Logistics, Parts, and Accessories. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Delhi Technological University and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow.

Japanese automaker Nissan has announced senior management changes within its Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) region to support its ‘Re:Nissan’ transformation plan.

Effective 1 January 2026, Thierry Sabbagh has assumed the role of Divisional Vice-President and President for the Middle East, KSA, CIS and India for both Nissan and Infiniti.

The expansion of Sabbagh’s remit marks India as a priority for the manufacturer. The company plans to launch three models in the Indian market over the next 14 to 16 months. These include the Gravite, the Tekton and a seven-seater C-SUV. To support these launches, Nissan is expanding its retail presence to 250 touchpoints across the country.

Massimiliano Messina, Chairperson AMIEO, Nissan, said, “The Re:Nissan plan is about transformation and customer-centricity. By empowering regional leadership, we are creating a more agile organization that can respond quickly to market dynamics and deliver competitive, compelling products. I am confident these changes will strengthen our performance and supercharge our progress in 2026 and I wish Thierry every success in his new role.”

Sabbagh added, “I am honoured to take on this expanded role at a pivotal time for Nissan. The Middle East and India are dynamic, fast-growing and continuously evolving markets, with significant opportunities ahead. I look forward to working closely with our talented teams and partners across the region to build on our strong foundations, accelerate growth and deliver meaningful value for our customers.”

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “This is a significant moment for Nissan in India as we enter a new phase of growth. Having Thierry on board reinforces our confidence in the path ahead, and his experience and leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our market presence and delivering even greater value to our customers. This appointment further strengthens our leadership as we move from transformation to execution, with a clear focus on products, customers and sustainable growth.”

The restructure also follows the departure of Leon Dorssers, Senior Vice-President and Chief of Commercial Operations for Nissan AMIEO, who had been with the company since 1992. The new leadership team will oversee the rollout of new technologies and products, with the Gravite and Tekton scheduled for release in early 2026.

Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced that it has exceeded 500,000 connected cars in the Indian market.

The OEM said its connected car variants now account for approximately 40 percent of the company’s domestic wholesale volumes. This growth is supported by the Kia Connect 2.0 platform and the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC).

The Kia Seltos is the main contributor to this total, representing about 70 percent of the connected vehicle sales, followed by the Sonet and Carens models. Data from the company indicates a trend of customers renewing their connectivity subscriptions after the initial complimentary period.

Technical features within the Kia ecosystem include:

• OTA Software Updates: Remote vehicle diagnostics and software installations to reduce dealership visits.
• Digital Key 2.0: Vehicle access and operation via smartphone or smartwatch using Ultra-Wideband (UWB) or NFC technology.
• Surround View Monitor (SVM): A 360-degree camera feed accessible through the Kia Connect app.
• Voice Recognition: Multilingual support for vehicle functions in English, Hindi, Tamil and Bengali.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, "Kia India has consistently differentiated itself through its vehicle design excellence and technology leadership. Our continued focus on enhancing connected features and customer engagement initiatives such as Kia Drive Green has strengthened adoption and interaction across our connected ecosystem. The strong customer retention beyond the complimentary subscription period underscores the sustained relevance and long-term value of Kia Connect.”

The company also utilises Plant Over-The-Air (P-OTA) updates, a system that ensures vehicles are programmed with the most recent software versions before they leave the manufacturing facility.

The Sriperumbudur facility of Hyundai Motor India Limited has been honoured with the Tamil Nadu State Level Safety Award for 2022 by the state’s Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH). The prestigious award was presented by Minister for Labour Welfare & Skill Development C V Ganesan and DISH Director Anand to senior company executives Mukundan M S and Senthil Kumar R M. This accolade, granted in the Large-Scale Industry category, acknowledges Hyundai’s ongoing dedication to exceptional safety performance, marked by a notable decline in incident rates and a systematic focus on risk mitigation.

Operating in India for over 30 years, the plant has consistently fostered a robust safety culture through comprehensive initiatives. This includes implementing widespread safety campaigns, establishing diligent monitoring protocols and driving continuous improvement programmes. The company’s approach integrates rigorous processes, proactive assessments and regular training aligned with international benchmarks, all underpinned by strong safety governance. Hyundai Motor India reiterates that the well-being of its employees is a primary concern, and it remains steadfast in its mission to advance its safety systems and sustain an environment where a culture of excellence is paramount.

Gopalakrishnan C S, Whole-time Director & Chief Manufacturing Officer, Hyundai Motor India Limited, said, “Safety at Hyundai is not a standalone initiative – it is a deeply embedded culture practiced at every level of our operations. Our goal is simple: a safe, secure working environment for every employee, every day. This award affirms the collective commitment of our teams and motivates us to strengthen our safety excellence even further.”

Volkswagen India has confirmed that its new flagship SUV, the Tayron R-Line, will launch in the first quarter of 2026. The vehicle is aimed at the seven-seater SUV segment and will be locally assembled at the company’s plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to ensure market competitiveness.

The Tayron R-Line occupies the top position in the brand’s SUV range in India. It features the 'R-Line' trim, which includes specific design enhancements to its silhouette. The model is intended for customers requiring a seven-seat capacity alongside a focus on road presence and lifestyle versatility.

Nitin Kohli, Brand Director, Volkswagen India, said: “As we build a premium portfolio of products, we continue catering to the evolving aspirations of Indian car buyers. The all-new Tayron R-Line is the authentic flag-bearer that will drive this vision for Indian consumers. Ensuring competitiveness, we will be locally assembling this SUV at our plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.”

The introduction of the Tayron R-Line follows Volkswagen's strategy to expand its portfolio in the Indian market with vehicles that offer higher passenger capacity and updated design aesthetics.