Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is looking for showroom locations in three Indian cities and has hired an executive to head up its lobbying and business efforts ahead of the electric vehicle maker’s planned entry into the country, Reuters reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
Tesla registered a local company in India In January and is expected to import and sell the Model 3 sedan by as early as mid-2021.
It is looking for commercial properties as large as 20,000-30,000 square feet each to open showrooms and service centres in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, three sources said.
Tesla has recruited Manuj Khurana, a former executive of India’s investment promotion body Invest India, to lead its policy and business development efforts in the country, according to two other sources, Reuters reported.
India recorded just 5,000 electric vehicle sales out of the total 2.4 million cars sold last year, it noted.