Kia India has appointed Atul Sood as its new Senior Vice President for Sales & Marketing, starting July 11, 2025. Sood replaces Hardeep Singh Brar, who has now taken over as President and CEO of BMW Group India.
Atul Sood is a veteran in the auto industry with nearly 30 years of experience. He previously worked at Toyota Mobility Solutions and Services India, as well as Toyota Kirloskar Motors and Toyota Motor Asia Pacific. He was involved in launching key hybrid models like the Innova Hycross and Urban Cruiser Hyryder and also led efforts to expand into rural markets.
His new role at Kia comes at a critical time. Kia India recently crossed the milestone of one million car sales in less than five years, thanks to popular models like the Seltos, Sonet, and Carens. However, in 2023-24, Kia lost its spot among the top five car brands in India, with Toyota moving ahead.
With Sood’s experience in hybrid technology, rural marketing, and premium vehicle strategies, Kia hopes to regain its momentum. The company plans to focus more on hybrid and electric vehicles, expand its product range, and increase exports.
Earlier this year, Kia launched new models like the Syros and Carens Clavis. It also has plans to launch electric versions soon. In 2026, it aims to bring in the Seltos Hybrid and Sorento Hybrid to attract eco-conscious buyers.
Kia India’s CEO, Gwanggu Lee, said that Sood’s leadership and knowledge will help the company grow stronger and improve customer satisfaction. Sood said he is excited to join Kia and praised the brand’s focus on innovation and customer needs.
Kia’s factory in Andhra Pradesh can produce up to 3 lakh cars each year. So far, the company has sold over 1.2 million cars in India and exported over 3.6 lakh units. It has 744 service points in 329 cities and more than 4.5 lakh connected cars on the road.
Sood’s entry is expected to boost Kia’s sales strategy, support its upcoming SUV and EV launches, and help it grow in smaller cities across India.
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