Tesla expands operations in India with multiple job openings after high-profile discussions
Tesla Inc., the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) and renewable energy company, has initiated a hiring drive in India, signaling its growing commitment to the Indian market. The company has posted job openings for 13 positions, covering sales, customer engagement, and service operations, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Tesla’s hiring push follows Elon Musk’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi in the US
This move comes shortly after Tesla CEO Elon Musk met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his US visit. The meeting underscored India’s efforts to attract global EV manufacturers by reducing import duties and promoting local production. Tesla’s hiring suggests that the company is taking concrete steps toward establishing a presence in the Indian market.
Tesla’s evolving relationship with India and policy shifts in the EV sector
Tesla has long considered entering India but faced challenges due to high import duties. Previously, electric vehicles priced above $40,000 were subject to a 110% import tax, making Tesla cars prohibitively expensive.
In 2024, the Indian government reduced this duty to 70%, aiming to encourage foreign EV makers to invest in local manufacturing
To further boost EV adoption, the government introduced policies offering reduced import duties for companies committing at least Rs 41.5 billion ($500 million) to Indian manufacturing. These initiatives are designed to attract Tesla and other global brands to set up production facilities, reduce dependence on imports, and make EVs more affordable for Indian consumers.
Elon Musk’s postponed India visit and Tesla’s future strategies
Musk had planned to visit India in April 2024 to explore investment opportunities, including setting up a Tesla manufacturing plant. However, the visit was postponed due to pressing business concerns, such as Tesla’s workforce reductions and vehicle recalls in the US.
Despite the delay, Tesla has remained in active discussions with Indian officials. The company’s hiring announcement suggests renewed interest in expanding operations, with potential next steps including:
- Launching EV sales in India via direct imports before committing to local production
- Partnering with Indian suppliers for battery components and vehicle assembly
- Establishing a Gigafactory in India if demand and policy incentives align with Tesla’s business strategy
***********************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken a small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, running a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will make a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com