According to José Muñoz, India’s geographical advantage makes it an ideal launchpad for emerging markets, offering on-demand product flexibility and global cost competitiveness.
15 Oct 2025 | 2186 Views | By Prerna Lidhoo and Ketan Thakkar
Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) is doubling down on India’s strategic role within its global operations, announcing that it will make the country a major export hub by the end of the decade. Hyundai Motor India (HMI) aims to increase exports to account for 30% of its total production by 2030.
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Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) is doubling down on India’s strategic role within its global operations, announcing that it will make the country a major export hub by the end of the decade. Hyundai Motor India (HMI) aims to increase exports to account for 30% of its total production by 2030.
“India is our export hub. As the number one cumulative automobile exporter in India, HMI aims to grow exports to 30% of total production by 2030, strengthening our global footprint. Our parent company, Hyundai Motor Group, is now the world's third-largest automotive group by volume and the second most profitable, ahead of Volkswagen,” said José Muñoz, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company.
He highlighted the strong profitability of exports from India, noting that the average export sales price has been about 6% higher than domestic sales, making them “highly beneficial to profitability.” He said that this focus “isn’t just about volume; it’s about enabling HMI to grow sustainably and profitably.”
Putting India’s strategic importance in perspective, Muñoz said, “In 2020, India represented 11% of HMC's global sales and was our **fifth-largest strategic region. In 2025, it's 15% and our third-largest region. By 2030, HMI is poised to emerge as the second-largest region in sales volume globally within HMC, behind only North America. This isn't incremental growth — this is a strategic transformation.”
According to him, India’s domestic automotive industry is projected to grow at 5.2% annually through 2030, reaching 5.6 million units, while Hyundai Motor India (HMI) aims to outpace that with a 7% CAGR, targeting a 50% domestic market share before factoring in additional export-led growth.
“It is our commitment to building a sustainable, self-reliant automotive ecosystem in India. HMI is India's number one cumulative automotive exporter, and we are reinforcing this position as a key export hub for Hyundai Motor Company. Again, that's ‘made in India, made for the world,’” Muñoz said.
India’s geographical advantage, he added, makes it an ideal launchpad for emerging markets, offering greater product flexibility and enhanced cost competitiveness. Hyundai’s export strategy will see 50% of shipments directed to the Middle East and Africa — primarily hybrids, sedans, SUVs, and entry EVs — 40% to Central and South America with a similar product focus, and the remaining 10% to neighboring Asian markets.
Hyundai’s export volumes have already been growing at 12% annually, faster than the domestic industry’s 9.6% growth. “The average sales price for exports has been about 6% higher than domestic sales, which means exports are highly beneficial to profitability. This isn't just about volume; it's about enabling HMI to grow sustainably and profitably,” Muñoz said.