Tesla India Launch Soon? EV Giant Leases Office in Mumbai Ahead of Musk's Visit

Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc. has reportedly leased another private office space in India, this time in Mumbai’s Kurla area, close to the Bandra-Kurla Complex business hub. This new Mumbai office will be Tesla’s third in the country, following the establishment of offices in Pune’s Viman Nagar and a registered office in Bengaluru.

The US-based EV giant has leased a 30-seater office in a co-working facility at Phoenix Market City, with a monthly rent of around Rs 3 lakh, according to The Economic Times (ET). This move is seen as an important step in building Tesla's operational presence in India.

The lease agreement, signed between Tesla India Motor & Energy and co-working provider EFC earlier this month, is valid for one year with a three-month lock-in period, offering the EV major short-term flexibility as it refines its India strategy. The Pune office, spread across 5,850 sq ft, is also located within a co-working setup.

Tesla’s expansion in India has gathered momentum since February, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Elon Musk during his US visit. However, Tesla had previously voiced concerns over India's high import tariffs on EVs.

According to report, the new Mumbai office will likely handle early operations such as recruitment, regulatory compliance, vendor engagement, and backend support ahead of Tesla’s formal entry into the Indian EV market. The company listed close to two dozen mid-level positions last month, including roles in vehicle service, sales, customer support, and operations.

This move comes shortly after Tesla secured its first showroom space in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), which reportedly set a national leasing record at Rs 881 per sq ft per month — a major milestone in Tesla’s India journey.

Elon Musk's India Trip

On April 19, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated that he is "excited to visit India later this year."

His comments followed a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where they discussed the vast opportunities for collaboration in technology and innovation.

Musk shared his enthusiasm on X, saying, "It was an honor to speak with PM Modi. I am looking forward to visiting India later this year!"

Following their call, PM Modi also posted on X, writing, "Spoke to @elonmusk and talked about various issues, including those we discussed during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in technology and innovation."

He added, "India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the U.S. in these areas."

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported last week that Tesla has started refunding early reservations for its Model 3, which some customers made back in 2016. In an email, the company stated, “When we finalize our offerings in India, we will reach out in the market again. We hope to see you back with us once we are ready to launch and deliver in your country.”