Tesla begins hiring in India days after Musk-Modi meet in US

Tesla Inc. has initiated hiring in India as the company is seeking candidates for 13 openings, according to a LinkedIn post shared on Monday. The hiring includes customer-facing and back-end jobs.

This is a clear sign that the electric car maker is entering the Indian market. This development comes shortly after its Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington.

At least five positions, including service technician and advisory roles, were available in both Mumbai and Delhi.

The remaining openings, such as customer engagement manager and delivery operations specialist, were for the Mumbai location.

Tesla’s plans in India

News18, citing sources from the Finance Ministry, reported that Tesla plans to set up three plants in India—one in Gujarat, another in Andhra Pradesh, and a third location yet to be decided.

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India-Tesla relations

Tesla’s plans to enter India have been inconsistent due to 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%. This, along with India’s goal to decarbonise and achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, makes it a promising market for EVs.

India is currently the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

Moreover, India’s growing middle class and increasing demand for sustainable solutions make it a key market for Tesla. The company has long sought lower import taxes as a condition for making major investments in the country.

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Musk’s postponed India visit

Musk’s visit to India in 2022 was postponed. It was speculated that his visit would pave the way for Tesla’s launch in India, possibly with a manufacturing plant. However, he delayed the trip to address urgent company issues, including job cuts and vehicle recalls in the US. \

India slashes import duties

Later, the Indian government reduced import duties for EV makers committed to building local manufacturing plants with at least ₹41.5 billion ($500 million) in investment.