Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: Tesla Inc., the electric car maker owned by Elon Musk, has officially commenced its hiring process in India, signaling a major step towards its much-anticipated entry into the Indian market.
On Monday, Tesla posted a job listing on LinkedIn for a Consumer Engagement Manager position in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The full-time, on-site role indicates that Tesla is serious about establishing a direct presence in India.
This marks the beginning of Tesla’s expansion strategy in India, as the company has posted a total of 13 job openings, including customer-facing and operational roles.
The latest move follows a significant meeting between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14 in Washington DC. Their discussions focused on strengthening the India-US collaboration in various sectors, including innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development. These areas align with Tesla’s vision for the Indian market.
Tesla has been considering an expansion into India for several years, despite having a limited presence. With its recent job postings, the company appears to be making concrete efforts to establish a foothold in India, which is the world’s third-largest automobile market.
Potential Manufacturing and Service Operations
Industry experts believe that Tesla’s active hiring process could indicate the setting up of sales and service operations in India, with the potential for local manufacturing in the future. The Indian government’s push for electric vehicle adoption and local manufacturing, supported by incentives under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, may play a pivotal role in Tesla’s decision.
While Tesla has not provided a definitive timeline for its India launch, the company’s recent hiring activities suggest that preparations are underway.
Earlier, Elon Musk had faced challenges in India, particularly with Starlink’s satellite internet service, which was suspended due to confiscations by Indian authorities. However, Tesla’s EV ambitions seem undeterred, as Musk continues to advocate for reduced import duties on Tesla vehicles, hinting at the company’s willingness to export affordable electric vehicles to India.