Tesla Inc. has begun hiring in India, signaling its impending market debut after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CEO Elon Musk met in the United States.
On Monday, the company posted 13 job openings, including administrative and customer-facing positions, on social media. At least five vacancies, including advisory and service technician positions, were open in both Delhi and Mumbai for the available positions.
The remaining roles, such as delivery operations specialist and client engagement manager, were reserved for Mumbai.
Tesla and India have had a sporadic relationship; in the past, the automaker was hesitant because of high import taxes. India recently lowered the minimum customs charge on luxury cars costing more than $40,000 from 110% to 70%.
Even though India’s EV market is smaller than China’s, Tesla still has a chance there despite the country’s falling sales. China sold 11 million electric cars last year, while India sold about 100,000.
Tesla’s interest in India comes after US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Modi met in Washington last week. Trump then declared that PM Modi had consented to start talks on the US defense budget and trade deficit, including possible purchasing of F-35 fighter jets.
Musk is part of Trump’s cabinet, but it was unclear from the meeting if he was meeting with PM Modi as a DOGE team member or as the CEO of a private company.
It is clear that Musk’s political and corporate interests coincide. After Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with then-President-elect Trump in Florida, Italy recently revealed talks with Musk’s SpaceX over secure government telecommunications.
