Tesla to Open First India Showroom in Mumbai’s BKC, Delhi Next in Line

As per the report by The Times of India, US electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has taken a step closer to entering the Indian market by securing a lease for its first showroom in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai. 

As per the reports, the lease deal is one of the highest for commercial properties in the country. 

“The monthly rent for the ground floor area of the commercial tower is Rs 900 per square feet so the total cost comes to around Rs 35 lakhs every month. This lease is for five years and Tesla plans to open another showroom in AEocity, Delhi,” said the news report.

This agreement came to fruition only a few weeks after Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, met Prime Minister Naendra Modi in Washington. Musk’s meeting was immediately followed by the company’s posting of 13 job openings in India. This posting seemingly hints at a revamped desire to penetrate the Indian market.  

February's news suggests a possible future launch, corresponding with the current discussion surrounding the India-US Bilateral Trade agreement that was made public after Modi's meeting with Donald Trump.  

At present, India enforces a 110% import duty on automobile vehicles, this is one of the criticisms made by Trump, claiming that such exorbitant tariffs are forcing Tesla to set up a manufacturing base in the region.  

In an interview Trump recently commented on Tesla, claiming if they were to build a factory in India to avoid the tariffs it would place an “unreasonable burden” on the US. Trump further claimed that “Every nation in the world takes advantage of the U.S. and do so with tariffs… Practically speaking, as an example, it is impossible to sell a car in India.”

Musk’s advocacy for a tariff reduction has led the Indian government to think about drafting a new policy based on his recommendations. Musk has always been very vocal about his views.   

Internships and Jobs at Tesla India  

Tesla India has begun hiring. Tesla is looking to fill 13 positions listed on LinkedIn for customer support, operations, and sales. Out of these, five are based in Delhi and Mumbai, while the remqinder are located in Mumbai.  

In India, Tesla has opened up 13 job advertisements in sales, operations, technical support, and customer service.  

- Delivery Operations Specialist