Veteran Toyota executive to succeed Hardeep Brar as Kia strengthens leadership for next growth phase; Brar moves on to lead BMW Group India
11 Jul 2025 | 2598 Views | By Ketan Thakkar
Kia India announced the appointment of Atul Sood as Senior Vice President for Sales & Marketing, effective July 11, 2025. The appointment comes as the South Korean automaker seeks to strengthen its position in the competitive Indian passenger vehicle market.
Sood brings nearly three decades of automotive industry experience ...
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Kia India announced the appointment of Atul Sood as Senior Vice President for Sales & Marketing, effective July 11, 2025. The appointment comes as the South Korean automaker seeks to strengthen its position in the competitive Indian passenger vehicle market.
Sood brings nearly three decades of automotive industry experience to his new role, having most recently served as President and Director at Toyota Mobility Solutions and Services India. He previously held positions at Toyota Kirloskar Motors and Toyota Motor Asia Pacific. His appointment follows the departure of Hardeep Singh Brar, who has moved to BMW Group India as President and Chief Executive Officer.
The leadership change occurs as Kia India enters what it describes as its next growth phase. The company recently surpassed one million vehicle sales in under five years, driven by models including the Seltos, Sonet, and Carens. However, Kia slipped from its position among the top five passenger vehicle manufacturers in India, losing ground to Toyota Kirloskar in 2023-24.
At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Sood played a role in launching hybrid models such as the Innova Hycross and Urban Cruiser Hyryder. He also led initiatives to expand into rural markets, experience that could prove valuable as Kia seeks to strengthen its presence in Tier 2 and 3 cities. His background in premium positioning and channel management aligns with Kia's plans to diversify into hybrid and electric vehicle offerings.
Kia India has outlined an expansion strategy that includes reinforced product portfolio development, increased focus on exports, and electrification. The company introduced the Syros and Carens Clavis models in the first half of 2025, with electric variants planned within the next 12 months. An all-new Seltos Hybrid and Sorento Hybrid are scheduled for launch in 2026.
The appointment reflects the competitive pressures facing Kia India. The company faces growing competition from the Maruti-Toyota alliance, Hyundai's electric vehicle focus, and Tata Motors' expansion in SUVs and electric vehicles. Industry observers note that Kia's success will depend on executing tighter go-to-market strategies and deeper dealer engagement.
Gwanggu Lee, Managing Director and CEO of Kia India, stated that Sood's industry expertise and strategic experience would be valuable as the company works to strengthen its market position and enhance customer satisfaction. Sood expressed enthusiasm about joining Kia India, citing the brand's commitment to innovation and customer focus.
Brar's move to BMW Group India represents a significant transition in India's automotive leadership landscape. During his tenure at Kia India beginning in 2021, he helped accelerate the company's retail footprint and achieve volume and market share milestones. At BMW, he will oversee operations across the BMW, MINI, and Motorrad brands as the German luxury automaker expands its India strategy through electrification and digitalization.
Kia India operates a manufacturing facility in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, with an annual production capacity of 300,000 units. The company has completed approximately 1.5 million vehicle dispatches from the facility, including over 1.2 million domestic sales and more than 367,000 exports. The brand maintains a network of 744 touchpoints across 329 cities and has over 450,000 connected cars on Indian roads.
The leadership change comes at a time when the Indian automotive market faces challenges including high inventory levels and steep discounts. Sood's appointment is expected to help Kia India improve retail execution, support upcoming SUV and electric vehicle launches, and strengthen market penetration in emerging markets.