Not Easy for Tesla”: JSW’s Sajjan Jindal Warns Tata, Mahindra’s “Deep Roots” Will Challenge Musk in India
“Not Easy for Tesla”: JSW’s Sajjan Jindal Warns Tata, Mahindra’s “Deep Roots” Will Challenge Musk in India
New Delhi – Sajjan Jindal, the influential Chairman of the JSW Group, has voiced skepticism about Tesla’s potential for an easy victory in the Indian electric vehicle (EV) market, cautioning that replicating its global success will be a formidable challenge. He highlighted the deep entrenchment of domestic automotive giants like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra as a major hurdle for the Elon Musk-led company.
Speaking on the competitive landscape, Jindal emphasized the home-ground advantage that Indian automakers possess. He pointed out that Musk is “in the US,” whereas companies like Tata and Mahindra have an intimate, long-standing understanding of the Indian market, its consumers, and the intricate regulatory environment. This “deep-rooted” presence, he argued, gives them a significant edge in catering to the specific needs and preferences of Indian buyers.
Jindal also drew attention to Tesla’s proposed market-entry strategy. He noted that the American EV pioneer currently plans to sell its cars in India as imports rather than setting up local manufacturing facilities from the outset. This approach could prove to be a significant challenge in a highly price-sensitive market like India, where high import duties on completely built units (CBUs) would place Tesla cars at a premium price point, far beyond the reach of the average consumer.
“Replicating Tesla’s success in America won’t be straightforward here,” Jindal asserted. He concluded that the combination of India’s unique price sensitivities, a complex regulatory framework, and powerful, well-established competition means Tesla cannot simply expect a plug-and-play success story on Indian soil.
