NEW DELHI: Tesla has officially kickstarted its hiring process in India, marking a significant step toward its much-anticipated debut in the countryโs electric vehicle (EV) market.
The American EV giant has posted job openings for 13 positions across major metropolitan cities, signaling its intent to establish a strong presence in India.
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The job roles cover both customer-facing and operational functions. At least five of these positions, including service technicians and advisory roles, are available in Mumbai and Delhi.
Other roles, such as customer engagement manager and delivery operations specialist, are specifically based in Mumbai.
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This move strongly suggests that Tesla is actively preparing for retail sales in India this year. The company has also been scouting showroom locations in Delhi, Mumbai, and other major cities.
Teslaโs entry into India has been in the pipeline for years, with the automaker previously lobbying for lower import duties and policy incentives.
In a bid to attract global automakers and boost EV adoption, the Indian government recently introduced significant tax reductions. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech, announced a reduction in import tariffs on high-end cars priced above $40,000, lowering them from 125% to 70%.
Additionally, basic customs duties on lithium-ion batteries used in EVs have been scrapped, a move aimed at reducing production costs and encouraging local manufacturing.
Tesla is also expected to introduce an affordable EV model in India. Currently, its cheapest offering in the U.S., the Model 3, is priced at around $30,000.
However, Tesla is set to launch a new model priced under $25,000 in the U.S. by June, and industry insiders suggest this could be the first model introduced in the Indian market.
This hiring spree comes after a meeting between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latterโs official visit to the U.S. last year. The discussion had reignited speculation about Teslaโs plans for India, which had previously faced hurdles due to high import duties and regulatory concerns.
Globally, Teslaโs lineup includes five modelsโthe Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X, and the Cybertruck.
For India, the company is likely to introduce the Model 3 and Model Y first. The latest iteration of the Model 3 offers a maximum range of 614 km on a single charge, while the Model Y can travel up to 542 km.
Teslaโs efforts to establish a foothold in India have faced multiple delays over the years, with setbacks including stalled negotiations and postponed meetings.
Last year, high expectations surrounded Muskโs scheduled visit to India for talks with PM Modi, only for the meeting to be canceled at the last minute.
However, with Tesla now actively recruiting in India, it appears that the EV giantโs long-awaited market entry is finally taking shape.
In its fourth-quarter Tesla reported revenue of $25.7 billion, slightly below analyst expectations of $27.3 billion. Net income for the quarter was $2.3 billion, or $0.66 per share, missing the projected $0.74 per share.
Despite achieving record vehicle deliveries of 1,789,226 units in 2024, Tesla experienced a 70% decline in net income for Q4 compared to the same period in 2023.
