Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has finalized locations for two showrooms in India, as per a Reuters report.
This would mark the global EV giant’s first steps in its long-awaited plans to enter the country’s market,
The US automaker has been scouting for showroom space in India since late last year after previously putting its market entry plans on hold in 2022.
What locations has Tesla chosen?
Tesla has secured a lease in the Aerocity area near New Delhi’s international airport, a hub featuring hotels, retail outlets, and offices of global corporations, the news agency reported citing sources.In Mumbai, the company has chosen a site in the Bandra Kurla Complex, a major business and retail district near the city’s airport. Both locations are expected to be around 5,000 square feet in size.
While the opening dates remain undecided, Tesla plans to sell imported EVs in India through these showrooms, though they will not function as service centers. The company will directly operate the outlets.
Tesla hiring in India
The electric vehicle maker has listed 13 job openings, spanning customer-facing and back-end roles, on its LinkedIn page.At least five positions, including service technician and advisory roles, are available in both Mumbai and Delhi, while others, such as customer engagement manager and delivery operations specialist, are for Mumbai.
Tesla has engaged with India intermittently but previously stayed away due to high import duties. However, India recently reduced the basic customs duty on high-end cars priced above $40,000 from 110% to 70%.
While India’s EV market remains small compared to China’s, it presents an opportunity for Tesla to counter slowing sales. India’s EV sales neared 100,000 units last year, far behind China’s 11 million.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long criticized India’s steep import duties and has lobbied for reductions, facing resistance from local automakers concerned about competition.
Elon Musk’s India ambitions
The development follows a recent meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Musk in the US.Modi met with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in Washington on Thursday, discussing opportunities in space, mobility, technology, and energy.
The two also exchanged insights on governance efforts in India and the US. It is unclear if the two discussed Tesla during the meeting.
Musk has previously expressed interest in expanding Tesla in India.
Musk had planned a trip to India last year to explore setting up a Tesla facility. However, by July 2024, those plans had stalled.
Reports have indicated that the New Delhi visit, originally scheduled for April, was indefinitely postponed, with Tesla executives no longer in active discussions with Indian officials.
Beyond Tesla, Musk’s Starlink satellite venture is also awaiting regulatory approval in India.