Tesla is finally making its way to India

The American electric car Tesla is reportedly set to enter the Indian market this year and could start selling its EVs as early as April, according to a recent report.

Elon Musk is gearing up to bring Tesla’s retail operations to India, with the launch expected as early as April this year. According to a report by CNBC-TV18, the company plans to start by importing vehicles from its Berlin plant. 

This move comes after years of speculation and negotiations about Tesla’s entry into the Indian market. While full-scale local manufacturing isn’t on the table just yet, the initial imports could be a step toward a bigger presence in the country.

Elon Musk had to abruptly postpone his April trip to India, claiming “very heavy Tesla obligations.” Many people expected him to finally lay out Tesla’s plans for entering the Indian market, therefore his visit was eagerly awaited.

 Even though the delay was frustrating, it didn’t stop rumors that Tesla was developing a plan to get its electric vehicles to India as quickly as possible. Now, it appears that those plans are finally coming together, with reports indicating a launch as early as April this year.

Tesla selects its location as Mumbai and New Delhi

Tesla has been on the lookout for showroom space in India since late last year as it gears up to enter the world’s third-largest auto market. This comes after the company had previously put its India entry plans on hold in 2022. Now, with things back on track, Tesla seems determined to finally make its mark in the country.

As it prepares to launch in India, Tesla is moving quickly! The company reportedly has already decided on showroom locations in New Delhi’s Aerocity and Mumbai’s BKC commercial zone. According to its original plan, Tesla wants to launch an electric car in India that costs less than $25,000, or about ₹21 lakh.

Although it has not yet made a commitment to produce its EVs in India, Tesla intends to increase the number of components it sources from Indian OEM suppliers. 

According to CNBC-TV18, Tesla anticipates sourcing over $1 billion in components from India by 2025, strengthening its alliance with the Indian car sector.

Job opportunities increasing 

Not only is Tesla expanding its plans for showrooms in India, but it is also hiring! Store managers and customer relationship managers are among the 13 mid-level positions for which the corporation has announced job openings in India.

The ‘Mumbai Suburban’ area is the location of these positions, which include a variety of duties from customer service and sales to service operations, according to job advertisements on Tesla’s website. A few of the roles include store manager, business operations analyst, customer support specialist, parts adviser, service technician, sales & customer support specialist, and delivery operations specialist.

It’s evident that Tesla is setting the stage for its eagerly anticipated debut in the Indian market, with hiring now underway.

Elon Musk has criticized India for having higher import duties

Elon Musk has been vocal about India’s steep import tariffs on EVs, which can go as high as 100%. Tesla has been pushing for lower tariffs for years, but local automakers have pushed back, fearing that Tesla’s entry could disrupt their own EV plans.

Musk had stated in August 2021 that if Tesla is successful with importing cars into India, it might establish a manufacturing facility there. “But import duties are the highest in the world by far of any large country!” he stated when he stated that Tesla wants to introduce its cars in India.

The issue has even caught the attention of US politics. Just last week, former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized India’s high car import duties. However, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to work towards an early trade deal to resolve their ongoing tariff dispute.

With Tesla now actively working on its India launch, the government’s next move remains uncertain—whether it will ease import restrictions or require the company to navigate the existing tax structure.