Tesla Inc. is recruiting in India, signaling its plans to enter the market soon after CEO Elon Musk’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US.
The electric vehicle manufacturer advertised 13 open roles on LinkedIn on Monday, including positions in customer service and back-end operations. At least five of these roles, such as service technicians and various advisory positions, are based in both Mumbai and Delhi, while the rest, including customer engagement managers and delivery operations specialists, are specifically for Mumbai.
Tesla and India have had intermittent discussions over the years, but the company had hesitated to enter the market due to high import duties. Recently, India reduced the basic customs duty on high-end cars priced above $40,000 from 110% to 70%, making it more feasible for Tesla to expand there.
Though India’s electric vehicle market is still smaller than China’s, it offers an opportunity for Tesla to address slowing sales. In 2024, India’s electric car sales reached nearly 100,000 units, compared to China’s 11 million.
Tesla’s move follows a meeting between Prime Minister Modi, Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump in Washington last week. Trump later mentioned that Modi had agreed to start talks to reduce the US trade deficit and boost US military purchases, including steps to supply F-35 fighter jets.
Musk’s role in both the private sector and political circles has created a mix of business and political interests. Recently, Italy confirmed talks with Musk’s SpaceX to provide secure telecommunications for the Italian government, following a meeting between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President-elect Trump in Florida.
