Tesla Begins Hiring in India After Elon Musk Meets with Prime Minister Modi

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has begun hiring in India, LinkedIn job listings showed, marking a potential step toward entering the market. This development comes shortly after CEO Elon Musk met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington.

The electric vehicle giant has posted 13 job openings in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, India’s financial hub. Positions include sales advisors, operations managers, technicians, and customer support roles. However, it remains unclear whether Musk and Modi discussed Tesla’s entry into the country during their meeting.

Tesla has long expressed interest in expanding to India. In December, Reuters reported that the company was exploring a showroom in New Delhi. However, in April 2024, Musk canceled a planned visit to India and scrapped billion-dollar investment plans for a manufacturing facility.

If Tesla chooses to import vehicles, it will face steep import duties, with Indian law imposing tariffs as high as 100% on automobile imports. However, this landscape could shift as Prime Minister Modi works to lower tariffs on U.S. goods in an effort to maintain strong trade relations with the Trump administration.

Tesla’s renewed interest in India comes as the company grapples with declining sales in its major markets, including Europe, North America, and China. The sales declines come amid a mix of increased competition, weak automobile demand, and issues tied to Musk’s brand image.

Yet, Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) may face stiff competition in India, where established local players like Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Tata Motors Ltd. have expanded their electric vehicle offerings in recent years. Additionally, Chinese EV giant BYD Co Ltd. has a growing presence in the country, further intensifying the competition for the U.S.-based automaker.

As Tesla looks to expand its global footprint, the Indian market could present both challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving EV space.