By admin 
Tesla Inc. has begun recruiting in India, signaling that the company plans to enter the market soon, following a recent meeting between CEO Elon Musk and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the United States.
On Monday, Tesla posted job advertisements on LinkedIn for 13 positions, including customer-facing and back-end roles. At least five positions, such as service technician and various advisory roles, are available in both Mumbai and Delhi, while the remaining openings, including customer engagement manager and delivery operations specialist, are specific to Mumbai.
Tesla’s potential move into India follows years of fluctuating interest, largely due to concerns over high import taxes. However, India has recently reduced its customs duties on high-end cars priced over $40,000 from 110% to 70%, making the market more accessible for the electric vehicle maker.
India’s electric vehicle market, while still in its early stages compared to China’s, presents an opportunity for Tesla to counteract slowing sales in other regions. Last year, India saw nearly 100,000 electric vehicle sales, while China reported 11 million.
This hiring initiative follows a meeting between Prime Minister Modi, Musk, and President Donald Trump in Washington. Trump later mentioned that Modi had agreed to begin discussions on addressing the US trade deficit and increasing US military purchases, including the potential supply of F-35 fighter jets. Although Musk holds significant influence within Trump’s government, it is unclear whether his meeting with Modi was in his capacity as a private business leader or as part of his involvement with the DOGE team.
Musk’s influence in both business and political spheres has blurred, as evidenced by recent talks between Musk’s SpaceX and Italy to provide secure telecommunications services for the Italian government, a move that followed a meeting between Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Trump.
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Tesla Inc. is hiring in India, a sure sign it plans to enter the market shortly after Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US.
The electric-vehicle maker sought candidates for 13 roles, including customer-facing and back-end jobs, according to advertisements on Monday on its LinkedIn page.
At least five of the positions, including service technician and various advisory roles, were available in both Mumbai and Delhi, while the rest of the openings, such as customer engagement manager and delivery operations specialist, were for Mumbai.
Tesla and India have engaged on-and-off for years, but the carmaker had stayed away from the South Asian nation over concerns on high import duties. India’s now reduced basic customs duty on high-end cars priced above $40,000 from 110% to 70%.
While India’s EV market is still nascent compared to China’s, it offers an avenue for Tesla to check slowing sales after it posted its first annual drop in EV sales in over a decade. India’s electric car sales neared 100,000 units last year compared to China’s 11 million.
Tesla’s India intent follows PM Modi’s meeting with Musk and President Donald Trump in Washington last week. Trump later said PM Modi agreed to begin negotiations to address the US trade deficit boost US military purchases, including steps to ultimately supply F-35 fighter jets.
Although Musk is a key member of Trump’s cabinet, the president didn’t say if the tech billionaire met Modi as a CEO of private companies or in his role with DOGE team.
Musk’s role in Trump’s government has blurred the lines between his business and political interests. Last month, Italy confirmed talks with Musk’s SpaceX for a deal to provide secure telecommunications for the nation’s government, a development that followed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meeting with then President-elect Trump in Florida.
Gill Bikram Singh