Maharashtra Emerges as a Contender for Tesla’s Indian Manufacturing Facility
A day after electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Tesla announced its hiring plans for India operations, CEO Elon Musk began searching for land to establish an EV manufacturing plant in the country. As per the sources, Maharashtra is considered the project’s primary location.
The Maharashtra state government has proposed two sites near Pune—Chakan and Chikhali—for Tesla’s plant. Notably, Tesla India Motor & Energy Pvt Ltd already has an office in Pune, which it leased for five years in 2023 at Panchshil Business Park.
Musk-led Tesla is actively recruiting talent in India, listing at least 13 job roles across Delhi and Mumbai. These roles include Service Advisor, Parts Advisor, Tesla Advisor, Customer Support Supervisor, and Delivery Operations Specialist. The company’s expansion in India comes shortly after Musk’s recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the United States.
Despite Tesla’s long-standing interest in entering the Indian market, plans have been stalled since 2019 due to high import duties. Previously, India imposed a 60% import tax on electric vehicles priced at $40,000 or below and a 100% tax on those exceeding this threshold. However, recent reductions in import duties, particularly on high-end EVs, have rekindled Tesla’s interest in launching operations in the country.
Reports indicate that during Elon Musk’s meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Musk sought concessions and lower tariffs on imported EVs. The leaders also discussed various topics, including space exploration, mobility, and technological innovation. Narendra Modi described the meeting as part of India’s efforts to promote a business-friendly ambience through reforms and governance improvements.
“I talked about India’s efforts towards reform and furthering ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’,” PM Modi had said on X (formerly Twitter).
While Maharashtra appears to be a strong contender for Tesla’s first EV plant in India, no official announcement has been made yet. As Tesla continues its hiring spree and land search, the Indian EV market is watching closely to see how the company’s entry unfolds.
Stay tuned for more updates on Tesla’s expansion in India.
