Dia Rekhi, an ET journalist with deep insights into Tesla's negotiations, discusses the fierce competition among Indian states to attract Elon Musk's electric vehicle giant. She highlights Andhra Pradesh's strategic incentives, from land deals to tax benefits, aimed at enticing Tesla amid a challenging EV landscape. The conversation delves into the implications for job creation and the existing Indian auto industry. Rekhi also examines the geopolitical aspects and the unpredictable nature of Musk's decisions regarding Tesla's Indian adventure.
Various Indian states are aggressively competing with incentives to attract Tesla, showcasing their infrastructure and supplier networks to appeal to the automaker.
Tesla's potential entry into India faces hurdles due to high import tariffs and geopolitical factors, complicating the decision-making process for investment.
Deep dives
Tesla's Hiring Surge in India
Tesla has begun hiring in India, focusing on positions related to sales and customer support. This hiring spree, particularly in major cities like Mumbai and Delhi, signals serious intentions of establishing a presence in the Indian market. Industry insiders suggest that Tesla is keen on recruiting talent from Tata Motors, seen as a leader in the EV sector, to bolster its manufacturing plans. This renewed effort follows a history of discussions with local and national government officials, which have often ended without concrete decisions, largely due to high import duties on EVs.
State Governments Competing for Tesla
Multiple Indian states are actively competing to attract Tesla by offering land and incentives that cater to the automaker's specific needs. Maharashtra has proposed land near established automobile hubs, while Andhra Pradesh emphasizes its port access and availability of land ready for development. These states are also showcasing their existing supplier networks to appeal to Tesla's operational requirements. This eagerness among states reflects the intensifying competition to court Tesla as it represents a lucrative opportunity for local economies and the burgeoning EV market.
Challenges and Opportunities for Tesla in India
Despite the attractive offers from local governments, significant challenges remain for Tesla's entry into India, primarily stemming from import tariffs. Previous discussions revealed that high duties could hinder profitable pricing of Tesla's vehicles in the Indian market. While the government has proposed reducing tariffs to facilitate foreign investment, conditions such as the requirement for a $500 million investment complicate the decision-making process. Additionally, geopolitical factors and Musk's unpredictable business decisions add further uncertainty to the timeline for Tesla's potential entry into India.
It’s that time of the year again. Markets are abuzz once more with talks of Tesla coming to India.
The race to woo Elon Musk’s EV giant has intensified. Andhra Pradesh has now joined the list of states offering incentives to attract the maker of cybertrucks and self-driving cars. From cheap land parcels to port access, to tax benefits on charging infra, state governments are pulling out all stops to convince Tesla to set up shop in their turf.
Tesla which is facing tough competition and dented sales in strongholds like China has a lot riding on the India EV story. But will it bite?