Tesla’s India Head Prashanth Menon Resigns Without Successor; Will It Shake Its Debut?

Tesla Inc.’s India head, Prashanth Menon, has resigned after working with the billionaire Elon Musk-owned auto maker for nearly nine years. With Menon’s sudden resignation without any immediate successor to assume his role, Tesla’s China team will look after India operations, Bloomberg reported, citing sources. 

This development comes at a time when Tesla is gearing up for its India auto market debut with its first retail outlets in Mumbai and Delhi. 

Menon served as head and chairman of the board for Tesla India Motors and Energy. He was appointed as Tesla’s India manager in July 2021 and had replaced Venkatrangam Sreeram. Prior to handling Tesla’s India operations, he had worked as director advisory of cost, process, and regulatory measures at Tesla US.

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He reportedly played a significant role in setting up of Tesla’s local office in Pune in 2021 and then leasing showrooms in Mumbai and Delhi this year.  

Menon has reportedly cited personal reasons for resignation. Musk-owned Tesla hasn’t made an official announcement regarding Menon’s exit as India head. 

Menon’s bond with Tesla boss Elon Musk stretches beyond working for the latter’s company, both attended Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvannia. 

His exit without a successor might put brakes on Tesla’s India entry for some time. Following the lease of the showrooms in Mumbai and Delhi, Tesla has kickstarted the hiring process for candidates with strong skills, technical expertise and a drive for innovation across different profiles, including engineering, manufacturing, design, business operations and technical roles. 

2025 has been a year when American billionaire Elon Musk has shaken up things for two sectors in India i.e., telecom and electric vehicles (EV) automobile with his potential debut this year, especially as he has called “India is a very hot market”.