Tesla, the electric vehicle (EV) company owned by Elon Musk, has officially started its hiring process in India, signaling a major step toward its long-anticipated market entry.
On Monday, Tesla posted a job listing on LinkedIn for a Consumer Engagement Manager position in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. This full-time, on-site role marks the company’s commitment to establishing a direct presence in India.
The recent job postings are part of Tesla’s broader expansion strategy in the country. In total, the company has listed 13 openings, covering both customer-facing and operational roles. This hiring move follows a significant meeting between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14 in Washington D.C., where they discussed ways to strengthen collaboration between India and the U.S. in areas such as innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development. These topics align closely with Tesla’s vision for India’s future.
Tesla, a global leader in electric mobility and renewable energy, has had a limited presence in India but has been exploring an expansion for years. The latest job listings indicate that the company is now taking concrete steps toward setting up operations in one of the world’s largest automobile markets.
Industry experts speculate that Tesla’s hiring surge is a sign the company is preparing to establish sales and service operations, with the possibility of future manufacturing in India. This move also aligns with the Indian government’s efforts to encourage electric vehicle adoption and local manufacturing, supported by incentives under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
Although Tesla has not confirmed an official timeline for launching in India, its active hiring suggests that preparations are well underway.
In December, Musk revealed that Starlink’s satellite internet services were suspended in India after two devices were confiscated by authorities—one from a conflict zone and the other from an area associated with drug smuggling. Additionally, Musk has been advocating for a reduction in import tariffs on Tesla’s electric vehicles, stating that the company is willing to export more affordable EV models to India, provided the government lowers import duties.
