Manuj Khurana, who had joined Tesla India as policy and business development executive in March 2021, is reported to have quit the Company because Tesla’s entry into the Indian market has been deferred. That means, the hopes of the resultant employment generation here have also been dashed, at least temporarily.
Not only was Khurana the first employee of Tesla in India, but he was the brain behind the Company’s India-entry strategy. He was the one who followed up with the Indian government and managed to persuade them to reduce the import tax on electric cars down to 40 per cent. This would have helped Tesla try out the Indian market relying on imports from China, before actually setting up its electric vehicle manufacturing factory in India.
However, with the Indian government expecting a commitment from the Company that it would manufacture its cars locally. This has led to Tesla postponing its India plans.
Part of the India team has been reassigned and the Company is no longer hunting for suitable spaces to open showrooms either.
Tesla is adamant to not set up a manufacturing unit in any country where it is denied the permission to first sell and service cars.
Meanwhile, countries such as Thailand and Indonesia are all set to benefit, if Tesla decides to invest there as it is already considering.
