Tesla's India head suddenly resigns, local layout changes at the last minute
Tesla's India regional head Prashanth Menon has resigned at a critical stage as the company opens its first showrooms in Mumbai and New Delhi. Menon worked at Tesla for nearly nine years, serving as the chairman of the board for the Indian subsidiary and the country head, laying the foundation for Tesla in India. The Tesla China team will temporarily take over the Indian operations, and a successor has not yet been appointed. This personnel change comes as Tesla accelerates its entry into the Indian market, and analysts believe it is related to U.S.-India automotive tariff negotiations
According to informed sources, Prashanth Menon, the head of Tesla (TSLA.US) in India, has submitted his resignation at a critical stage when the electric vehicle giant is finalizing the opening of its first showrooms in Mumbai and New Delhi.
Sources indicate that this executive, who has served Elon Musk for nearly nine years, chose to leave after more than four years at the helm of Tesla's India board. As the chairman and national head of Tesla India Motors and Energy Pvt Ltd, Menon laid an important foundation for the American automaker's operations in India—he established the first local office in Pune in 2021 and led the leasing of the first showrooms this year.
Sources say that Tesla's China team will temporarily manage the Indian operations, and a successor has not yet been appointed. This personnel change comes as Tesla accelerates its entry into the world's third-largest automotive market.
Tesla did not respond to requests for comment. Menon himself declined to comment.
Sources indicate that Menon left for personal reasons.
On the same day the resignation news broke, Indian media reported that Starlink, owned by Musk, had just obtained a key operational license. Analysts pointed out that this may be linked to the ongoing negotiations between India and the U.S. regarding automotive tariff reductions—currently, India imposes tariffs as high as 110% on imported vehicles, and Musk, who was a key advisor to Trump, is clearly benefiting from the bilateral negotiations between the U.S. and India.
Strategic Layout Key Node
Sources say that although Tesla has obtained retail leasing rights and expanded local hiring, the scale of operations in India will be affected by global constraints and the development of Tesla's other markets.
The final decision regarding the launch of operations in India is expected to be made by senior management, with Musk retaining control over global market priorities.
Last month, Tesla's India office began offering refunds to customers who had reserved its old Model 3 cars as early as 2016, indicating that Tesla is preparing for the official launch of new models in the country.
Reports in February indicated that after years of setbacks, Tesla plans to test the waters by importing thousands of complete vehicles to this, the world's fifth-largest economy
