Tesla India experiences a change in leadership as market entry approaches
Tesla, the electric vehicle giant, is expanding its presence in India despite a recent leadership change. Prashanth Menon, who served as Tesla's India head for over four years, has resigned from his position and his role is currently being filled by senior executives from outside India.
The company is actively hiring across major Indian cities like New Delhi and Mumbai to support showroom launches, local manufacturing development, and service operations. Tesla aims to localize production and adapt vehicles for the Indian market, which requires a significant expansion of its workforce.
Menon played a crucial role in setting up Tesla's local office in Pune in 2021 and securing the company's first showroom leases in Mumbai and Delhi earlier this year. His departure is reportedly for personal reasons.
Despite the leadership shakeup, Tesla's preparations for its India debut continue. The company has already secured two showroom locations in India, one in Mumbai and the other in Delhi. Tesla is moving closer to officially launching vehicle sales in India, one of the world's largest auto markets.
The new job openings in India range from store managers to service and customer service roles, and are aimed at establishing a physical presence in India and supporting initial sales and service operations. Tesla has listed dozens of new job openings in India over the last few months, signalling its commitment to the Indian market.
Meanwhile, Tesla is also hiring for Autopilot Vehicle Operators to test and validate the self-driving software on local roads. However, advertisements for referral links for Full Self-Driving (FSD) have been avoided.
Last month, Tesla began issuing refunds to customers who placed early reservations for the Model 3 as far back as 2016, likely to reset its plans to better align with updated vehicle offerings.
As Tesla gears up for its India launch, it is also scouting sites for showrooms and a potential manufacturing plant, with possible locations in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The company's planned $2-3 billion manufacturing investment in India will further boost its presence in the country.
With Tesla's operations now being overseen by teams from the company's China division, the future of Tesla in India looks promising. However, no successor has been named to fill Menon's position, leaving many wondering who will lead Tesla's charge in the Indian market.
The company's planned $2-3 billion manufacturing investment in India will not only boost Tesla's presence in the country but also create job opportunities in the fields of finance, business, and technology, as Tesla hires locally for showroom launches, service operations, and the development of its manufacturing plant.
In line with its commitment to the Indian market, Tesla has listed dozens of new job openings, particularly for roles in store management, service, customer service, and Autopilot Vehicle Operations, requiring expertise in technology and business operations.
