Tesla Inc. is now hiring in India, a sign that it is about to enter the Indian market. The news comes following a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Tesla sought for 13 roles, including customer-facing and back-end jobs, according to advertisements on Monday on its LinkedIn page. Some of the positions like service technician and various other advisory roles were available in Delhi as well as Mumbai.
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While Tesla has engaged with India over the years, it has stayed away from the country because of high import duties. India’s now reduced basic customs duty on high-end cars priced above $40,000 from 110% to 70%.
Modi had met Musk on Feb. 13, when they, according to an X post, had conversations on “issues ranging from energy to spirituality,” as well as “space, mobility, technology, and information.” However, no specific details were given for Tesla’s plans in India.
It is not known if Musk had met Modi in the capacity of a private citizen, or as a government employee, considering he is currently spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“I don’t know,” President Donald Trump said when asked about it. “They met, and I assume he wants to do business in India. I guess if there’s no conflict then what difference does it make.”
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While India’s Electric Vehicle (EV) market is nascent compared to other countries like China, it provides Tesla an opportunity to check slowing sales after its first annual drop in EV sales in over a decade was recently revealed.
India’s electric car sales neared 100,000 units in 2024. Tesla’s newfound interest in India comes at a critical time as the adoption rate globally for electric cars is under pressure and rivals like BYD Co. have been stepping up their game. But it’s unclear whether Tesla intends to invest in India just yet.