Indian business magnate Sajjan Jindal remains unconvinced about Tesla’s potential success in India. Speaking at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards, the Jindal Group Managing Director cast doubt on Tesla’s ability to compete with domestic giants like Tata and Mahindra.
“Elon Musk is not here. He is in the US. He is likely to come. He can’t be successful in this country. Because we Indians are here. We are here,” Jindal remarked, highlighting the strong presence of Indian automakers. He further stated, “He (Musk) cannot produce what Mahindra can do, what Tata can do. Not possible.”
A video of of Jindal’s remarks is now circulating on X, further fueling the conversation.
However, Jindal did acknowledge Musk’s brilliance, describing him as “super smart” and recognizing his achievements. “He can do it under Trump’s shadow. He can do it in the US. He’s super smart. There’s no question about it. He’s a maverick. He’s super smart. He’s doing this SpaceX and stuff like that. He’s done amazing things,” he added.
Jindal’s statements have ignited a debate on social media. One X user supported his view, citing India’s tough market conditions: “Indeed! Recently, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said that Indian customers are demanding and that India is one of Uber’s most challenging markets.”
Others disagreed, countering that Tesla shouldn’t be underestimated. “People said the same thing about Apple, and look at where they are now. Nobody should underestimate anyone. Tesla has the potential to do wonders in India,” wrote one user.
Another user pointed out the challenges of doing business in India, stating, “Doing business in India is exponentially harder than in the USA or any other developed country due to poor infrastructure, excessive regulations, a dysfunctional legal system, and horrendous bureaucracy with excessive red tape.”
Meanwhile, Musk appears unfazed. Tesla has secured 4,000 square feet of office space in Mumbai’s prime Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). The company has signed a five-year lease starting February 16, 2025, with an initial annual rent of around $446,000 (approximately Rs 4 crore), signaling that Tesla is committed to establishing its presence in India despite the doubts.