Tesla expands hiring in India after Musk-Modi meeting
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, Tesla, led by Elon Musk, has accelerated its hiring process in India, signaling its imminent market entry.
Musk recently met with PM Modi in Washington, DC, where they discussed various topics, including space exploration, mobility, technology, and innovation. The meeting has seemingly paved the way for Tesla’s expansion into India.
Tesla has posted job openings for at least 13 positions on its LinkedIn page, primarily in Mumbai and Delhi. The roles include business operation analyst, service technician, customer engagement manager, order operations specialist, and other advisory roles.
This hiring spree comes after India reduced the basic customs duty on high-end cars priced above $40,000 from 110% to 70%, a move that could facilitate Tesla’s entry into the Indian market.
Elon Musk has long considered developing a more affordable Tesla model tailored for India, but concrete steps toward this initiative remain unclear.
After his meeting with PM Modi, Musk expressed his appreciation, calling it an “honor” to meet the Indian leader. PM Modi also shared insights from their discussion on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing India’s reforms and its commitment to “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.”
During the meeting at the Blair House in Washington, DC, PM Modi and Musk explored ways to enhance India-US collaboration in innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development. They also discussed opportunities in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and governance improvements.
As a gesture of goodwill, PM Modi gifted books to Musk’s children, including The Crescent Moon by Rabindranath Tagore, The Great RK Narayan Collection, and Panchatantra by Pandit Vishnu Sharma. In return, Musk reportedly presented a special gift to the Prime Minister, speculated to be a heat shield tile from SpaceX’s Starship flight test conducted in October 2024, engraved with “Starship flight test 5, October 12, 2024.”
Tesla’s expansion in India appears to be gaining momentum, with hiring efforts indicating a serious push toward establishing a presence in the country.
