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BUSINESS & TRADE FEBRUARY 28, 2025 | The Indian Eye 32

Modi-Musk Meeting Effect? Tesla starts hiring in

India amid buzz of EV launch in domestic market

Tesla, a global leader in electric mobility and renewable energy, has had a limited

presence in India but has been considering an expansion for years

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi

lon Musk owned Electric car maker Tesla
Inc. has officially begun its hiring process in
EIndia, marking a significant step towards its
long-anticipated entry into the domestic market.
On Monday, the electric vehicle (EV) giant
posted a job listing on LinkedIn for the position of
Consumer Engagement Manager in the Mumbai
Metropolitan Region. The role is a full-time, on-site
position, indicating Tesla’s commitment to building
a direct presence in the country.
Tesla’s latest hiring activity aligns with its broad-
er strategy to expand in India. The company has
recently posted a total of 13 job openings, covering
both customer-facing and operational roles.
This development follows a crucial meeting be-
tween Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on February 14 in Washington DC.
The discussions between the two centered on
strengthening India-US collaboration in innova-
tion, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and
sustainable development. The two also explored
emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tesla CEO Elon Musk shake hands during their recent meeting
governance--areas that align with Tesla’s vision at The White House in Washington, DC (ANI Photo)
for India.
Tesla, a global leader in electric mobility and re-
newable energy, has had a limited presence in India Chinese firm BYD launches
but has been considering an expansion for years.
With the latest job postings, the company is tak-
ing concrete steps to establish itself in the world’s Sealion 7 EV in India
third-largest automobile market.
Industry experts believe Tesla’s hiring push
could be a precursor to the company setting up sales lectric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD In-
dia has officially launched the BYD Sealion
and service operations, and eventually manufactur- E7 in India at Rs 48.9 lakh (ex-showroom).
ing in India. The SEALION 7 was unveiled at the Bharat Mo-
The move aligns with the Indian government’s
push for electric vehicle adoption and local manu- bility Global Expo 2025 on January 18 and book-
facturing, supported by incentives under the Pro- ings commenced on the eve of the launch. The
electric SUV has received over 1,000 bookings
duction-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. within a month under its promotional booking
While Tesla has not provided an official time-
line for its India launch, its active hiring suggests policy. The BYD Sealion 7 comes equipped with
The BYD Sealion 7 Premium variant, which
that preparations are in full swing. comes with an 82.56 kWh battery pack and is LED headlamps featuring integrated LED
In December, Musk revealed that Starlink’s
satellite internet services were non-operational in priced at Rs 48,90,000 (ex-showroom), while DRLs, a roof spoiler, and flared wheel arches.
India following the confiscation of two of the com- the BYD Sealion 7 Performance variant, also Inside, it boasts a 10.25-inch digital instrument
cluster, a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen info-
featuring an 82.56 kWh battery, is priced at Rs
pany’s devices by authorities--one from an area af-
fected by armed conflict and the other from a region 54,90,000 (ex-showroom). tainment system, and two-zone automatic cli-
The Sealion 7 is built on BYD’s CTB (Cell-
mate control. The car also offers an electrically
linked to drug smuggling. to-Body) technology, which integrates the Blade operated tailgate, an ADAS suite, a 12-speaker
Additionally, Musk has been advocating for a
reduction in tariffs on Tesla’s electric vehicles. He Battery into the vehicle’s structure, improving audio system, a panoramic sunroof, heads-up
display, and dynamic tail lamps. The Sealion 7 is
safety, handling, and cabin space. It also features
expressed willingness to export Tesla’s affordable Intelligence Torque Adaption Control (iTAC) for also equipped with leather seats, 128-colour am-
EV models to India, contingent on the country low- enhanced driving performance. bient lighting and a 50W wireless charger.
ering its import duties.
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