Tesla Signals India Entry with Job Openings Following Elon Musk-PM Modi Meeting
February 18, 2025
In a significant move that signals its long-anticipated entry into the Indian market, Tesla Inc., the electric vehicle (EV) giant led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, has commenced hiring for multiple roles in India. This development follows a recent meeting between Musk and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the United States, along with former President Donald Trump, further strengthening speculation about Tesla’s strategic expansion into the Indian EV sector.
Job Openings Indicate Market Strategy
According to advertisements posted on LinkedIn, Tesla is seeking candidates for 13 positions, ranging from customer-facing to back-end roles. These roles include:
- Tesla Advisor
- Inside Sales Advisor
- Customer Support Specialist
- Consumer Engagement Manager
- Order Operations Specialist
- Service Manager
- Business Operations Analyst
- Store Manager
- Parts Advisor
- Service Advisor
- Delivery Operations Specialist
- Customer Support Supervisor
The job postings indicate that at least five positions—including service technicians and advisory roles—are available in both Mumbai and Delhi. Meanwhile, roles such as Customer Engagement Manager and Delivery Operations Specialist are primarily based in Mumbai.
Tesla’s Previous Hesitation and India’s Policy Shift
Tesla has long expressed concerns over India’s high import duties, which had previously deterred the company from establishing a foothold in the country. However, India recently reduced the basic customs duty on high-end cars priced above $40,000 from 110% to 70%, making it a more viable market for global EV manufacturers like Tesla.
Despite the growth of the Indian EV sector, it remains in its early stages compared to China. While Indian consumers purchased approximately 100,000 electric cars last year, Chinese buyers accounted for a staggering 11 million. However, Tesla’s entry into India could provide a much-needed boost to the country’s EV adoption and infrastructure.
Tesla’s Expansion Amid Global Slowdown
Tesla’s global sales have shown signs of slowing, with a recent drop in annual sales—the first in over a decade. Expanding into a market like India could offer new opportunities to counterbalance declining growth in more mature markets.
This expansion also comes at a time when Musk’s business ventures increasingly intersect with political developments. Recently, Italy confirmed that it was in talks with Musk’s SpaceX to provide secure satellite-based telecommunications for the government. This followed a meeting between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and then President-elect Trump in Florida.
What This Means for India
Tesla’s entry into India could accelerate the country’s EV transition, drive competition among domestic automakers, and create thousands of jobs in the automotive and renewable energy sectors. As Tesla begins hiring, industry analysts believe the company may soon announce plans to set up a manufacturing facility in India, potentially mirroring its successful model in China.
While Tesla has not officially confirmed a launch date, the recent job postings strongly indicate that the company’s entry into the Indian market is imminent.