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Hyundai has grown more than any automaker in the U.S. — and it's not done yet

The term means "anything is possible" in Korean. It's a mantra for the South Korean automaker that has proved to be true for the company's U.S. ambitions as well as for Muñoz himself, a Spanish-U.S. dual national who is the first non-Korean executive to lead the automaker. Hyundai has experienced rapid growth in the U.S. so far this decade despite an onslaught of geopolitical changes and a slowing market. And it's hoping to keep that going. The company is ramping up production at a new $7.6 billion plant in Georgia to continue to capture more sales and market share. "My top three priorities are U-S-A," Muñoz told CNBC during an interview last week after the Genesis reveal. "USA is helping us to really make good progress, not only in the most important market and the most competitive market in the world, but also elsewhere." Hyundai Motor Group, which includes its namesake vehicles as well as the Kia and luxury Genesis brands, has increased its market share this decade more than any major automaker in the U.S., according to data from Mobility Global. The group has grown its U.S. market share from 8.4% in 2020 to 11.2% through last year, and its sales have grown 50% over that period, making the South Korean company the fourth best-selling automaker in the country. Its market share is up to 11.8% through the first half of this year, according to auto intelligence firm Mobility Global. No other major automaker is even close to such market share gains, with most flat to down during that timeframe. Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla, at an estimated 2.1 percentage point increase in market share, is the only company even close, according to Mobility Global. Hyundai's U.S. performance has helped it become the third best-selling automaker globally and the second most profitable based on operating income, Munoz said. Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung downplayed the company's rapid rise when speaking last week to CNBC: "It's important, but speed doesn't matter. How we grow in the right way [is what matters]. I think that's more important." But investors have definitely taken notice of the growth, with shares of the company on the Korea stock exchange up nearly 250% since 2020. Hyundai expects its growth to continue with a $26 billion investment plan through 2028 that could include making its new Metaplant in Georgia the largest vehicle assembly plant in the country. Muñoz told CNBC the company is considering plans to increase the expected production capacity at the plant from 500,000 units to between 700,000 and 800,000 units by 2028. It currently produces the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9 as well as the Kia Sportage hybrid, with additional vehicles expected in the coming years. The goal is for Hyundai to produce at least 80% of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. domestically by the end of this decade, up from roughly 40% in 2024.

Hyundai has grown more than any automaker in the U.S. — and it's not done yet
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Hiring decisions speed up, but long notice periods keep talent waiting

Indian companies are moving faster to close hiring decisions, but long notice periods and a growing shortage of specialised talent are making it harder to get people on board quickly, creating a new bottleneck between making an offer and having the employee join, according to hiring experts. According to Careernet data, the time from raising a requisition to extending an offer fell from 53 days in FY25 to 46 days in FY26, an improvement in how fast companies are closing roles. Notice periods, however, have barely changed. The average gap between accepting an offer and joining remained around 30–33 days across both years. Roughly 29–31 per cent of the hires still took 60 days or more to join after accepting an offer. “Nearly a third of hires take two months or longer to join after accepting an offer — a significant gap between making the hiring decision and the person coming on board. During that period, companies are also managing the risk of counteroffers, drop-offs, or losing the candidate to another opportunity,” Neelabh Shukla, Chief Business Officer, Careernet, explained. In a competitive talent market, this puts more pressure on hiring teams to consider availability alongside skills and fit. A candidate who can join sooner may have an advantage when two candidates are otherwise comparable. Meanwhile, Adecco noted that in its flexi staffing business, the turnaround time expected by clients has come down to 24 hours. Notice periods continue to range from 30 to 90 days, with 90 days being common for senior hires. “All things being equal, we would prioritise candidates who can join sooner. However, skills and fit remain primary considerations. In a lean organisation, every position matters, and vacancies can affect business productivity. It is essential to balance the urgency of hiring with the need to bring in the right talent,” Karishma Parikh, VP, HR, Adecco India, highlighted. This gap is more visible with specialised technology roles. In Careernet’s placements, hiring volume for AI, machine learning and data science roles grew by about 48 per cent y-o-y. The average time-to-hire for these roles increased from 38 days to 63 days. Employers are opening more AI-related positions, but taking longer to close them. As per Careernet data, GCCs’ average time-to-hire is 37–38 days, as opposed to non-GCC employers at 54–65 days. This trend has remained consistent even as GCCs have scaled their hiring. However, they face a challenge after the offer is made. GCCs have the longest notice-period wait, at 41–42 days compared with 27–28 days for non-GCC companies. They are also the only segment where the share of hires taking 60 days or more to join increased y-o-y, from 35.7 per cent to 36.5 per cent. “One reason could be the kind of talent GCCs hire, since they tend to draw more heavily from senior professionals working at large, established companies, where contractual notice periods are often longer,” as per Shukla. Ganesh S Padmanabhan, VP, Recruitment Business at CIEL HR, observed that the challenge is often not time-to-hire but time-to-join and linked uncertainties. Notice periods of 30 to 90 days in India extend the overall recruitment cycle. Moreover, long notice periods are challenging for urgent and business-critical roles. During a two- or three-month wait, business requirements may change, projects may advance, and candidates may receive counteroffers or reconsider their decisions. “India retains an advantage through the scale and depth of its technology talent. However, in areas such as AI, data science, cybersecurity, cloud and advanced engineering, the challenge is increasingly one of talent velocity: how quickly companies can identify, hire and deploy scarce capabilities. Long notice periods add friction when global companies are competing for a limited pool of experienced specialists. They do not, by themselves, undermine India’s competitiveness, but they can slow execution,” Padmanabhan shared.

Hiring decisions speed up, but long notice periods keep talent waiting
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Kharif Harvest Outlook: Strong prices expected for most crops, except Bajra and Moong

As new Kharif crops arrive in mandis in about 10 days, farmers in top-producing states are expected to receive favourable market prices. The only notable concerns are Bajra (Pear Millet) and Moong (Green Gram), which are lagging behind at 31 per cent and 13 per cent below their MSPs. Nine out of 14 Kharif crops in which MSPs are announced, including Maize, Jowar, Tur, Urad and Soyabean, were sold on average either at par with their respective MSPs (of 2026-27 season) or higher on September 4, according to Agmarknet data. In case of paddy, the key Kharif crop in which market rates are influenced by government procurement, currently the average price in Uttar Pradesh was ₹1,965/quintal, the data show. Despite reports of some likely productivity losses due to impact of El- Nino, the mandi prices of Bajra, Paddy, Moong, Groundnut and Soyabean are ruling in negative ranging from 0.6 per cent to 31 per cent over their next season’s MSPs. Maize, Jowar, Tur and Urad are over their MSPs by up to 11 per cent. “There is no problem with paddy as the government has been procuring 40 per cent of production. Once the purchase starts (which varies from state to state), mandi prices too pick up. This time, soyabean prices are higher compared to last year, despite strong import of its oil. The groundnut crop in Gujarat, the top producer, will also looks good this year and its prices are also expected to move up,” said a former additional secretary in agriculture ministry. The maize price, which is ruling higher, is likely to fall once the crop arrives as its demand will compete with other animal feed like soyameal and DDGS, he added. “Going by the historical data and impact of El- Nino in previous years, there seems to be definite production loss this season. The market is already sensitive to it, which is factored in present prices. The sudden drop in Soyabean is very surprising, which should not hold for long as cartelisation seems to be the reason for it,” said S K Singh, a former additional MD of cooperative major Nafed. Overall, all major crops should see the prices aligned with their MSPs for their FAQ grade, except Moong where stock disposal by government agencies may keep prices below MSP, Singh added. In the current year, the sowing area under maize is lower by 3 per cent at 91 lakh hectare (lh) from year-ago level. Similarly, paddy acreage too trails by 4 per cent at 421.82 lh. Area under soyabean and groundnut is lower by about 1 lh, each from year-ago number, official data as on September 4 show. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Kharif Harvest Outlook: Strong prices expected for most crops, except Bajra and Moong
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

FSSAI suspends licenses of Kailash Formulation, Sanecure Water Project

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Sunday said it has suspended the licences of West Bengal-based Kailash Formulation and Sanecure Water Project after uncovering severe violations of hygiene, sanitation and compliance standards. “Enforcement drives in South Twenty Four Parganas, West Bengal, led to the suspension of FSSAI licences for Kailash Formulation and Sanecure Water Project due to severe violations of hygiene, sanitation and compliance standards,” it said in a social media post. Packaged drinking water company Sanecure Water Project’s licence was suspended for contraventions and major violations of regulations, it said. “Poor hygiene and sanitation, inadequate pest-proofing, and significant pest infestation were observed, raising serious concerns over food safety. Inadequate personal hygiene facilities, including hand-washing facilities and washrooms, along with lack of preventive maintenance of equipment and machinery, were observed. Rust/corrosion has been observed on equipment,” it added. It also said that key documentation and compliance gaps were observed, including the absence of a pest-control agreement, food-handler medical and inoculation records, control-sample records, customer complaint/CAPA records, and vehicle hygiene checklists. “Non-availability of potable water testing reports and COAs for raw materials/chemicals, approved-vendor documentation. The water test lab record copy was also found to be digitally edited/altered,” it added. Noting that severe non-conformance to stipulated compulsory sanitary and hygienic requirements was also observed, FSSAI added that the licence of Sanecure Water Project has been suspended “in the interest of public health in respect of all food business activities for which licence has been granted till further orders.” In the case of Kailash Formulations, overall hygiene and sanitation of the premises were found to be unsatisfactory, it added. Required lab test reports were missing. Non-compliance in packaging and raw materials was also observed, the food safety regulator noted. Earlier this week, FSSAI also said that enforcement action was taken against CG Foods, known for brand Wai Wai, following serious food safety violations at its manufacturing unit in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The food safety regulator said it has directed CG Foods “to discontinue the production of Veg Bhujia Namkeen product without proper approvals and measures.” It also said that during an inspection of the unit it was found that the firm was reprocessing floor-collected broken noodles into bhujia products without heat treatment, along with using pre-dated packaging dates. “About 32,017.2 kg stock was seized on-site, including loose broken noodles. Additionally, 1,925 boxes of expired finished goods were detained and strict legal proceedings were initiated against the FBO,” it added. The inspection also revealed severe hygienic and documentation deficiencies, including inadequate pest control, it added. FSSAI will take further regulatory action based on laboratory analysis of samples. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

FSSAI suspends licenses of Kailash Formulation, Sanecure Water Project
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

DP Abhushan eyes 51 stores, ₹15,000 cr revenue by FY30

Jewellery retailer DP Abhushan is targeting ₹15,000 crore in revenue by 2029-30, and plans to increase its store count to 51, particularly across tier-II and III cities, a top company executive said. "Currently, we have 12 stores in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. But now, we are expanding to Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. "We have set a target of 51 stores by 2029-30, mainly in central, north and west India. For this phase of expansion, we are adopting a franchise model, as well as company-owned," DP Abhushan Promoter Vikas Kataria told PTI. He said the company achieved ₹ 4,065.13 crore revenue in FY26, and with this expansion, it is eyeing ₹ 15,000 crore topline by FY30. The company is entering Chhattisgarh with a store in Raipur. In Maharashtra, it is exploring Nagpur and Nasik, and Dahod and Baroda in Gujarat, he said. Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Kataria said, the company is continuing to expand and strengthen its presence. "We are looking at setting up stores in Sagar and Mansoor in Madhya Pradesh, and Jodhpur and Bikaner in Rajasthan. So, basically, we are expanding in tier II and III cities," he added. To accelerate this expansion, the company is looking at franchise or franchisee-owned and company-operated (FOCO) models, and it has already finalised one in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Kataria said. "All 12 jewellery stores are company-owned. However, from this financial year, we are looking at the franchise or FOCO model to further our footprint. This will give us an opportunity to grow faster. We have already finalised one store under the franchise model in Jabalpur," he added. The company has a capex of around ₹ 50 crore for this expansion, to be raised through internal accruals, Kataria said, adding that the Ratlam-headquartered jewellery retailer's total current debt is ₹ 180 crore, and it is planning to reduce it going forward. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

DP Abhushan eyes 51 stores, ₹15,000 cr revenue by FY30
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

SBI Fixed Deposit vs Liquid Funds: Which Is Better for You?

For investors looking to park money for a few months to three years, debt mutual funds offer alternatives to bank fixed deposits (FDs), with potentially greater liquidity and flexibility, but their returns are market-linked and carry some risk. Bank FDs remain the default choice for Indian savers because they offer certainty of returns and capital stability. Debt funds, on the other hand, may suit investors willing to accept some fluctuations in value in pursuit of potentially better returns. Unlike bank deposits, mutual fund returns are not guaranteed. Their performance is influenced by factors such as interest rates, portfolio maturity and credit quality. The suitability of a debt fund depends on an investor’s time horizon and ability to tolerate fluctuations in value. Investors need to assess the risk-return trade-off of each category while investing. The biggest advantage of an FD is certainty: investors know the interest rate upfront, and returns remain unaffected if the deposit is held to maturity. Debt funds work differently. Their NAV fluctuates with the market value of underlying securities, while interest-rate movements, changes in credit quality and market conditions can affect returns. FD investors are insulated from falling rates once they lock in a deposit, but they may not benefit when rates rise unless they break the existing FD and reinvest. Debt-fund portfolios, in contrast, can gain or lose from interest-rate movements depending on their maturity profile and the direction of rates. Liquidity is another key difference. Premature FD withdrawals may involve a penalty. Debt funds generally allow redemption on business days, though exit loads can reduce proceeds, particularly over shorter holding periods. Exit loads range from nil to 1 per cent. Some overnight and liquid funds also offer an instant redemption facility, with the money credited to investors’ accounts within minutes. FDs remain superior for investors who cannot tolerate fluctuations in value. Deposits with scheduled banks offer a high degree of safety and are protected by deposit insurance of up to ₹5 lakh per depositor, per bank. Debt funds carry varying degrees of interest-rate and credit risk. Overnight funds are among the safest, as their securities mature in a day, leaving virtually no interest-rate risk. Liquid and money market funds are also relatively low-risk, while medium- and long-term funds carry higher volatility because of their longer maturity profiles. Debt mutual funds purchased on or after April 1, 2023, no longer enjoy the earlier long-term capital gains benefit or indexation, with gains generally taxed at the investor’s slab rate. The key difference is when tax is paid: FD interest is taxable as it accrues, whether withdrawn or reinvested, whereas debt-fund gains are taxed when units are redeemed. Here, we explain mutual fund categories that can serve as alternatives to bank FDs for investors looking to park money for a few months to three years. Relevant categories include overnight, liquid, money market, ultra-short to short-term funds, short-term and arbitrage funds. Each differs in maturity, interest-rate sensitivity, credit risk, liquidity and return potential. One simple way to choose a debt fund is to match your investment horizon with its maturity and duration profile. For instance, money market funds, which invest in debt and money-market instruments maturing within a year, may suit investors with a similar horizon. You can also consider the scheme’s yield-to-maturity (YTM), which indicates the yield of its current portfolio if the securities are held to maturity. Comparing the YTM with prevailing bank FD rates for a similar tenure can help assess relative attractiveness. YTM is not a guaranteed return and should be considered alongside the fund’s expense ratio, duration and credit quality. For 1–3-year deposits below ₹3 crore, HDFC Bank offers 6.45 per cent to the general public, while SBI offers 6.4–6.45 per cent. Overnight funds are suitable for parking money for a few days to months, while liquid funds may be preferred for investment horizons of up to around a year. Many of them offer instant redemption, allowing withdrawal of up to ₹50,000 or 90 per cent of the folio value, whichever is lower, with the money credited within minutes through IMPS.

SBI Fixed Deposit vs Liquid Funds: Which Is Better for You?
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Who Am I? September 6, 2026

Here’s a challenge. Using the five clues below, identify the company that is being talked about here. 1 Both my founders are chartered accountants. The next generation of both founders is actively involved in my growth, and neither is a chartered accountant. 2 My founder family continues to own almost a two-thirds stake, while the number of shareholders has been on the decline post IPO. 3 My recent acquisition, valued at more than my full-year profits, led to the resignation of an independent director citing governance challenges. 4 I was valued at a single-digit P/E multiple, with a market cap of less than 15 per cent of annual revenue, until recently. 5 I have delivered more than three times the return to shareholders since listing a few years ago. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Who Am I? September 6, 2026
Asia
The Economic Times

Bank of India Flexi Cap among 5 flexi-cap funds that deliver over 15% annualised return in 3 years

The top five flexi cap funds delivered over 15% annualised return in the last three years. Here is a detailed breakup of top five performers, as ETWealth (Data as of August 26, 2026) Bank of India Flexi Cap Fund, the topper in the list, delivered an annualised return of 20.5% in the last three years. Motilal Oswal Flexi Cap Fund delivered an annualised return of 19.9% in the mentioned time period. Invesco India Flexi Cap Fund delivered an annualised return of 18.5% in the mentioned time period. ITI Flexi Cap Fund delivered an annualised return of 18.2% in the mentioned time period. ICICI Prudential Flexi Cap Fund delivered an annualised return of 18.1% in the mentioned time period. There were five laggards in the last three years. UTI Flexi Cap Fund, Sundaram Flexi Cap Fund, SBI Flexicap Fund, Shriram Flexi Cap Fund and Samco Flexi Cap Fund delivered returns ranging between (2.4%) to 9.7% in the said time period.

Bank of India Flexi Cap among 5 flexi-cap funds that deliver over 15% annualised return in 3 years
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Two-way bilateral trade is over $15 billion, grown tenfold in 20 years: Brazil Consul General in Mumbai

Brazil Consul General Jose Mauro da Fonseca Costa Couto on Saturday said that bilateral trade between India and Brazil has grown tenfold over the past 20 years, from $1.5 billion in 2004 to over $15 billion at present. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the Global Impact Forum: Edition II-Civilisation Legacy in Mumbai, Couto highlighted the growth in trade between India and Brazil. He said, "I'll tell you one thing, in very tangibly, in 2004, when I first came to India, bilateral trade, two-way trade, was $1.5 billion. Nowadays, two-way trade is over $15 billion. So we've grown tenfold in 20 years." "So congratulations to India and to Brazil for moving so fast, so rapidly, into bringing people together from India and Brazil," he added. Couto also congratulated the organisers of the event, saying it promotes closer ties between people from different countries and provides a platform to discuss their respective pathways to development. "I'd like to congratulate the organisers of this event, which further promotes and approximate peoples of different countries together so they can discuss their own pathways to development without interference from other countries," he said. He further referred to the gathering as a "warm-up" summit ahead of the larger BRICS Summit in Delhi on September 12-13. "So basically, congratulations for hosting this summit, which is one of the, let's say, warm-up summits towards the larger BRICS summit, which will take place in Delhi quite soon," Couto said. The Global Impact Forum Edition II, organised by AP Globale, is being held on September 5-6 at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai under the theme "Civilisational Legacy". The forum brought together participants from business, government, policy and academia, with discussions around investment, entrepreneurship, diplomacy and international cooperation.Before the launch of the forum, AP Globale Director Janhavi Pawar spoke to ANI and said it has been designed keeping the BRICS theme in mind, with a focus on soft power and investment in India. Highlighting the business relevance of cultural understanding, Pawar said, "When it comes to soft power, it helps retain trade, investments and talent in a country even during geopolitical instability." She said understanding local cultures and sentiments is particularly important for companies entering new markets, adding that the forum aims to build greater understanding and trust between participating countries and delegations. India’s BRICS Chairship is guided by the theme: 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability', reflecting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a people-centric approach rooted in the spirit of "Humanity First", said the Ministry of External Affairs in a press release earlier. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Two-way bilateral trade is over $15 billion, grown tenfold in 20 years: Brazil Consul General in Mumbai