Tesla has listed openings for 13 roles, including customer-facing and back-end positions, in Mumbai and Delhi.
In a major signal of its long-awaited entry into the Indian market, Tesla has begun hiring in India, listing 13 job openings across customer support, operations, and sales roles. The move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in the United States, as well as his discussion with former U.S. President Donald Trump last week.
Tesla’s Hiring Drive in India
According to job listings on LinkedIn, Tesla is seeking candidates for several key roles, including:
- Tesla Advisor
- Inside Sales Advisor
- Customer Support Specialist
- Consumer Engagement Manager
- Order Operations Specialist
- Service Manager
- Business Operations Analyst
- Store Manager
- Parts Advisor
- Service Advisor
- Delivery Operations Specialist
- Customer Support Supervisor
At least five of these roles, including service technician and advisory positions, are available in both Mumbai and Delhi. Meanwhile, positions such as customer engagement manager and delivery operations specialist are being hired exclusively for Mumbai.
Why Tesla Stayed Away from India Until Now
Despite years of on-and-off engagement, Tesla has largely stayed out of India, citing high import duties as a key barrier to entry. However, the Indian government recently slashed basic customs duty on high-end electric vehicles (EVs) priced above $40,000 from 110% to 70%, making the market more viable for Tesla’s premium offerings.
India’s EV Market: Challenges & Opportunities
While India’s EV industry is still in its early stages compared to other global markets, the country is beginning to show potential. In 2024, Indians purchased 100,000 electric cars, while China recorded 11 million EV sales in the same period.
For Tesla, India could offer a new growth avenue as the company faces slowing global sales—its first annual drop in over a decade. With increasing government incentives and a shift toward sustainable mobility, the Indian market presents a strategic opportunity for the EV giant.
The Blurring Lines Between Business & Politics
Tesla’s expansion into India also highlights Musk’s growing political engagements. Notably, Italy recently confirmed talks with Musk’s SpaceX for a deal to provide secure satellite-based telecommunications to the Italian government. This followed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s meeting with Donald Trump in Florida.
With Tesla’s hiring spree in India now underway, all eyes are on how the company navigates its long-anticipated entry into one of the world’s fastest-growing EV markets.
