Hyundai Motor India appoints new MD

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has announced the appointment of Bo Shin Seo as its new managing director from March 5. Prior to his elevation as MD, Seo was executive director (production), a position he has held for two years. Seo takes over from Han Woo Park who returns to Korea as chief financial officer of Kia Motors.

An engineer by training, Seo has been Hyundai’s production head at its state-of-the-art Alabama plant in the USA. Commenting on his new role, Seo said, “I look forward to taking Hyundai Motor India to newer heights and working closely with the extended Hyundai family.”

Seo joins HMIL at a time when the company, which is the country’s second largest carmaker and the largest exporter, is pulling out all stops to drive growth. HMIL recorded good sales in February 2012, notching its highest-ever domestic sales and riding on the performance of the Eon hatchback launched last September.

Total sales in the month increased by 12.8 percent over February 2011. Domestic sales totaled 36,805 units (32,629 units in February 2011) including 10,324 units of the i10 and 10,430 units for the Eon, which has crossed the 10,000 units mark. The company also sold 6,584 units of the Accent and Verna saloons, and 147 units of the Santa Fe SUV.