Tesla Inc. is scouting for locations to open showrooms in three Indian cities and has hired an executive to lead its lobbying and business efforts beyond its planned entry into the country, sources in the discussion said Reuters.
The electric-car manufacturer registered a local company in India, in January, where it expects to import and sell Model 3 sedans by mid-2021, aiming to target wealthy customers in a niche market.
Vehicle manufacturers are seeking commercial properties in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, three sources said. Separately, Tesla has recruited Manuj Khurana, a former executive of Invest India, to lead its policy and business development in the country, two other sources said.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment, while Khurana refused to comment.
In October, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter that the company had “definitely” entered India in 2021, although the billionaire had dismissed a similar tweet in the past.
The showroom space and Khurana’s appointment of Appointments Tesla is moving fast.
Showroom properties have been rented out by global property consultant CBRE Group Inc. – Tesla – has been surveying locations for several weeks and focusing on locations that will give the company easy access to thriving customers, sources said .
Some luxury car showrooms in the upmarket areas of metro cities typically have between 8,000–10,000 square feet, but most showrooms in India are very small, where high-end genuine estespaces typically offer lower supply and property prices in New Delhi and Mumbai world. Are the most in .
“If you look at Tesla showrooms globally, they are experience centers. It is very important for the Indian market that it will be seen as a replica, ”said one of the sources, all of whom were rejected because the talks are private.
CBRE said it did not comment “at work we are abusing our customers”.
Khurana has previously been on a government panel on transport theft under the leadership of a scientific advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his new role, he is also handling Tesla’s market-entry process in India, two sources said.
But India is unlikely to be an easy market to crack down on.
Imported cars in the country have negligible charge for charging infrastructure and hi-tech as well as low adoption of electricvillacles (EVs).
India recorded sales of 5,000 EVs out of a total of 2.4 million cars sold last year, while sales of new energy vehicles in China stood at 1.25 million.
However, analysts say that due to the increasing number of India, this is a market that the automaker cannot afford to ignore as its focus increases to promote clean cars.
Although Tesla plans to import the cars for the first time, India’s roadminster told Reuters last month that local manufacturing is poised for incentives to ensure the carmaker’s production costs are lower than in China. .
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