Kia India is gearing up for a bold new phase of expansion and innovation, marked by strategic leadership changes and new vehicle launches. The company announced the appointment of Atul Sood as its Senior Vice President — Sales & Marketing, a move expected to give Kia a competitive edge in the Indian automotive market.
On his appointment, Sood said, “I am excited to join Kia India at such a dynamic time in its evolution. Kia has established itself as a forward-thinking and customer-focused brand, and its commitment to innovation and customer delight resonates strongly with me. I am looking forward to working with the team to deliver exceptional value and drive sustainable growth across the country.”
Sood, a seasoned auto veteran with nearly 30 years of experience, joins Kia from Toyota Mobility Solutions and Services India. Known for scaling pan-India operations, expanding dealer networks, and implementing customer-first strategies, his appointment signals Kia’s intent to consolidate its position as a mass-premium market leader. He now reports to Joonsu Cho, Chief Sales Officer at Kia India.
Kia’s plans for India
This leadership announcement comes on the heels of Kia’s aggressive product rollout strategy, which continues to reshape the Indian car landscape. In recent months, Kia has added the Carens Clavis and the Syros and is gearing up to launch an affordable electric MPV.
Kia’s total vehicle offerings in India now stand at eight models, covering both ICE and EV segments. The company has already dispatched nearly 1.5 million vehicles from its Anantapur facility, including over 1.2 million domestic sales and 3.67 lakh exports. It also leads in the connected car space, with over 4.5 lakh connected vehicles on Indian roads.
Under its reimagined brand philosophy “Movement That Inspires”, Kia is clearly focused on innovation, growth, and customer-centricity. The company now operates through 744 touchpoints across 329 cities and continues to strengthen its nationwide reach—an area that Atul Sood will be keenly focused on.
Kia sold 20,625 units in June, which is a 7% drop month-on-month and a 3.2% dip year-on-year. Currently, the South Korean manufacturer’s best-selling vehicle is the Carens, which sold 7,921 units in June, followed by the Sonet at 6,658 units and the Seltos with 5,225 units. Kia is the sixth-largest automotive company in India.
