Tesla has appointed a Director for its upcoming operations in India, according to an updated LinkedIn job title found by TeslaClubIN (via Teslarati).
Prashanth R. Menon, an employee of four years, has been selected as Tesla’s Country Director in India and was promoted from Direct Cost, Process, and Regulatory Advisory at Tesla U.S.
The U.S. electric vehicle (EV) company has already incorporated a Tesla subsidiary in India, announced starting Model 3 prices for buyers in India, and is expected to launch the electric sedans within the country sometime this year.
BREAKING : Tesla India now seems to have a Country Director.
Prashanth R Menon. He's with Tesla since 4+ years. Earlier he was Director Advisory – Cost, Process & Regulatory at Tesla US.#TeslaIndia🇮🇳 #TCIN pic.twitter.com/9vBlVSd34W
— Tesla Club India® (@TeslaClubIN) May 11, 2021
In its search for commercial space in January, Tesla hired Lobbyist Manuj Khurana, a former executive of Invest India, an investment promotion organization. Menon will likely join Khurana alongside a team of employees dedicated to helping Tesla have a smooth entry into India’s auto market.
Tesla’s efforts to establish a framework for its entry into India have made major strides this year. In March, a report showed that Tesla may partner with India’s Tata Power to establish an EV charging network. Earlier that month, India’s Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari offered the world’s lowest production costs to Tesla, emphasizing India’s readiness to embrace the California-based EV company.
The Indian government also confirmed that Tesla will be building a production facility in Karnataka, offering as much as $4.6 billion (USD) in incentives to Tesla and others looking to produce EV batteries within the country.
