1.45 billion potential customers. Tesla enters a new market.

Tesla has long been interested in establishing a presence in India, but is only now moving forward with its plans. In April of this year, Elon Musk met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss potential areas of cooperation in technology and innovation. At the same time, company representatives announced that the company was "carefully" evaluating the timing of its entry into the Indian market. Tesla currently has no plans to build a factory in India. Cars sold in the country will come from foreign factories, primarily in Shanghai and Berlin. Meanwhile, the Indian government has expressed interest in local production and is offering incentives, including the possibility of reducing high import duties (currently reaching up to 70%) to 15%, provided a minimum investment of $500 million and the establishment of plants in the country.

However, according to Reuters, Tesla is currently not interested in manufacturing in India. The opening of the Mumbai showroom is Tesla's first, but likely not last, step in India. The company is actively recruiting for employees in the local market. Advertisements for positions such as customer advisors, service technicians, security guards, and Autopilot data collectors have appeared on LinkedIn. Recruitment is underway not only in Mumbai but also in the capital, New Delhi, suggesting further expansion plans.

Tesla in India – 1.45 billion new customers

Tesla will face stiff competition from both the Chinese company BYD, which has already strengthened its market position, and the local leader, Tata Motors. Additional challenges remain the high costs associated with importing cars and the need to build an entire service and sales infrastructure almost from scratch. Tesla's entry into the Indian market, despite the lack of a decision on local production, could be a significant step toward expanding the brand's presence in emerging markets. The opening of the first showroom, scheduled for July 15th, will be the first test of customer interest in one of the world's most populous countries.