Tesla Inc. has begun recruitment in India, looking to fill 13 positions, as indicated in a LinkedIn post shared on Monday. The roles span both customer-facing and back-end positions.
This marks a clear indication that the electric car giant is making its entry into the Indian market. The news follows closely after CEO Elon Musk's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington.
Among the available positions, at least five, including service technician and advisory roles, are based in Mumbai and Delhi.
The rest of the openings, such as customer engagement manager and delivery operations specialist, are specifically for Mumbai.
Tesla's strategy in India
According to sources from the Finance Ministry, News18 reported that Tesla intends to establish three plants in India—one in Gujarat, another in Andhra Pradesh, and a third site that is still to be determined.
India-Tesla relations
Tesla's efforts to enter India have been inconsistent due to the country's high import duties on cars. However, India recently reduced the basic customs duty on high-end cars priced over $40,000 from 110% to 70%. Coupled with India's ambition to decarbonize and achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, this presents a promising opportunity for EVs.
Currently, India ranks as the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
Additionally, India's expanding middle class and growing demand for sustainable solutions make it a vital market for Tesla. The company has long advocated for lower import taxes as a prerequisite for making significant investments in the country.
Musk’s delayed visit to India
Musk's planned visit to India in 2022 was postponed. There was speculation that his trip would pave the way for Tesla's entry into the Indian market, potentially with a manufacturing plant. However, he delayed the visit to focus on pressing company matters, such as job cuts and vehicle recalls in the US.
India reduces import duties
The Indian government later lowered import duties for electric vehicle manufacturers who pledged to establish local manufacturing plants with a minimum investment of ₹41.5 billion ($500 million).
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