Tesla, led by Elon Musk, is actively seeking to recruit senior personnel in India, as indicated by job postings released this week. This development highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to penetrate the country’s automotive market, which ranks as the third largest globally. The job listings appeared shortly after Musk’s recent meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington.
Tesla has been eyeing entry into the Indian market for several years, including plans for local manufacturing. While some executives were brought on board in 2022, several high-ranking officials departed after the company temporarily shelved its plans for India at that time. Since late last year, Tesla has resumed its search for showroom locations in India and currently has 13 job openings listed on its website and LinkedIn, targeting various customer service and operational positions in Mumbai, the financial hub of India.
One of the positions advertised is for a “store manager,” tasked with overseeing sales at a potential showroom, suggesting that Tesla is preparing to establish a presence in the city. Additionally, the company is looking for specialists in delivery operations and customer support. These job listings follow Modi’s recent discussions with Musk in the United States, where topics such as space, mobility, technology, and innovation were addressed. Musk has previously expressed concerns regarding India’s high import tariffs, which can reach around 100% on electric vehicles, and Tesla has consistently advocated for their reduction. However, this push has met resistance from local automakers who fear that Tesla’s entry could disrupt their own electric vehicle initiatives.
Last year, Musk was anticipated to meet Modi during a visit to India, where he was expected to unveil a potential investment ranging from $2 billion to $3 billion. However, that trip was canceled after Tesla announced a 10% reduction in its global workforce due to declining sales. In November, reports indicated that Tesla was also exploring showroom opportunities in New Delhi and was in initial discussions with real estate firm DLF to secure a location.
