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.

In a move designed to enhance organisational agility, Renault Group has appointed Josep Maria Recasens to the newly consolidated role of Chief Strategy, Product & Program Management Officer with immediate effect. This promotion is a key part of the company's broader initiative to streamline its structure and accelerate decision-making. Recasens will now report directly to CEO François Provost and will join the Group’s Leadership Team, positioning him to shape the company's future direction.

His expanded responsibilities will encompass defining Renault’s overarching strategy, guiding critical product choices for the coming years and coordinating the implementation of future vehicle lineups to ensure their market success. While assuming these central corporate duties, Recasens will maintain his current position as CEO for the Iberian Peninsula countries. He will also continue as the CEO of Ampere, Renault's electric vehicle and software entity, until its ongoing transformation is fully complete.

Recasens brings a wealth of automotive industry expertise to this role. An engineer with an MBA, his career began at SEAT S.A. in 2002, where he progressed through roles in research and development, product planning, and international project management, eventually rising to Director of Strategy. He joined Renault in June 2021 as Director of Strategy and Business Development, playing a central role in the Renaulution plan and partnership deployments. His trajectory at Renault has been rapid, including his appointment as Chief Strategy Officer in 2023 and his leadership of Ampere, where he has been instrumental in steering its evolution into an electric and software-focused enterprise.

Provost said, “Since my arrival, I have focused on implementing a simpler, more effective and faster organisation to adapt to the current challenges. Bringing together the strategy, which sets the course, and the Product and Planning, which guides product choices and program directions, is an essential lever for greater coherence and agility. Josep Maria will be in charge of this scope and will take over from Guido Haak, whom I warmly thank for his dedication and years with us. Ampere's ambition remains at the heart of our strategy to provide our customers with innovative electrical and software technologies that are accessible to all.”

Recasens said, "I am very happy to take on this new challenge and grateful for the trust the Group has placed in me. My first priority will be to extend to the entire company a few principles that have made Ampere successful: a strong focus on the product, disciplined programme management and a holistic view of investments. With the support of the Leadership Team, we will adapt, accelerate and deploy these fundamentals to consolidate and amplify the renewed product momentum, and embed this dynamic in a sustainable way at the heart of the Renault Group's strategy.”

JSW MG Motor India has announced an association with pickleball player Monica Menon under its Women of MG initiative. The collaboration aims to support women achievers and emerging sports, which the brand states align with the values of agility, adaptability, and the pursuit of excellence.

The partnership draws a parallel between pickleball – described as reflecting the pace of modern life – and the MG Comet EV, the company’s urban electric vehicle. Monica Menon’s career includes transitioning from an AITA National Tennis Champion and 2010 Asian Games athlete to a pickleball player with more than 100 career podium finishes.

Udit Malhotra, Head of Marketing, JSW MG Motor India, said, “Pickleball captures the pulse of modern India, agile, intelligent, and always moving forward. Monica’s journey reflects that same rhythm of purpose and precision. The MG Comet EV, too, reimagines urban mobility with intent, compact yet expressive, simple yet smart. Through Women of MG, we celebrate women who lead with conviction and redefine their paths with style and substance.”

Monica Menon, added, “I’m thrilled to collaborate with JSW MG Motor India, a brand that champions women and supports new-age sports like pickleball. This partnership brings together two worlds that value precision, purpose, and thoughtful performance, sports and mobility. The MG Comet EV, with its compact yet spacious design and intelligent technology, makes every journey effortless, turning everyday travel into an experience of comfort and confidence. JSW MG Motor India’s commitment to supporting women and fresh ideas makes this collaboration truly meaningful.”

The partnership marks another step in the Women of MG programme, which has previously collaborated with figures such as professional golfer Tvesa Malik, Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awardee Deepa Malik and Paralympic silver medallist Bhavina Patel.

Beyond sports, JSW MG Motor India supports various community initiatives, including Sewa and Womentorship, Drive Her Back, Worth Waiting For, Prerna and MG Changemakers, to empower communities and amplify women’s potential.

Maruti Suzuki Smart Finance (MSSF), the carmaker’s digital car financing platform, has surpassed the milestone of 2.5 million car loan disbursals since its inception in FY2020-21.

The platform aims to revolutionise the car financing customer journey with a seamless, transparent and fully digital experience. The total amount disbursed has exceeded INR 1,700 billion.

MSSF provides an end-to-end digital journey for customers, offering facilities such as loan application, online sanction and disbursal with real-time progress tracking. Customers can compare and choose from multiple financiers, with options for Credit Score-Based Interest Rates and pre-approved offers for salaried and self-employed individuals.

The platform has achieved significant uptake with over 40 percent of Maruti Suzuki customers have utilised MSSF across both the ARENA and NEXA networks.

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Today, most car buyers start their journey online, exploring models and financing options before visiting a dealership. Recognising the magnitude of this shift early on, Maruti Suzuki pioneered a multi-financier, end-to-end digital car financing solution with Maruti Suzuki Smart Finance. Over the past five years, this platform has transformed the car-buying experience. Over 40 percent of our customers availed loans through Maruti Suzuki Smart Finance across ARENA and NEXA. MSSF’s ‘anytime-anywhere’ convenience has provided Joy of Mobility to over 2.5 million customers, amounting to more than INR 1,700 billion, reflecting our commitment to innovation and customer delight.”

He added: “This success is powered by the unwavering support of our finance partners, enabling seamless financing nationwide. Together, we continue to redefine automotive retail through customer-centric digital solutions.”

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, one of the leading car manufacturers in the country, has unveiled the new Tata Sierra, which it said has been designed to honour its predecessor while redefining what a modern Indian SUV can be.

The SUV is a re-interpretation of the original's soul, bridging heritage and the future. It stands as a halo product, set to lead the next chapter of the company’s design. Clean surfaces replace ornamentation, while the proportions, long wheelbase, upright stance and powerful shoulders emphasise its stance.

The Sierra’s exterior design reinterprets the silhouette of the original. The three-quarter glasshouse has been reimagined using a panoramic roof, flush glazing and a black-painted roof finisher. This maintains the airy character of the original while meeting safety and aerodynamic standards. The long wheelbase, roofline and width deliver better aerodynamics and visual balance.

At the front, the Sierra features the Light Saber, a full-width LED DRL that forms a single curve across the fascia. This lighting signature is mirrored in the rear light bar. Complementing it are R19 alloy wheels, flush door handles and gloss black cladding. The Clamshell tailgate, wide rear haunches and floating-roof effect give it road presence.

Inside, the Sierra features a ‘Living Room Philosophy,’ aiming to create a lounge space on wheels. The TheatrePro multi-screen setup features a Horizon View screen layout, offering digital experiences for both driver and passenger. This integrates with the SonicShaft Soundbar with a JBL Black 12-speaker system, which, combined with Dolby Atmos, transforms the cabin into an acoustic experience. The PanoraMax (sunroof plus surround view glasshouse) recreates the openness of the original Sierra’s glass canopy. The cabin architecture is horizontal, accentuating width and openness.

Interestingly, even before its launch, the Sierra SUV design has been recognised globally by winning the Red Dot Design Award. The jury in 2025 consisted of 15 experts from 13 countries.