Tesla Incorporates Local Unit To Start Selling Cars In India

Tesla Inc. set up an India unit as the world's most-valued automaker starts preparing for selling its electric cars in the nation with some of the world's most polluted cities.

It registered Tesla India Motors and Energy Pvt. in Lavelle Road, Bengaluru-Karnataka last week, filings with the Registrar of Companies showed. The unit will be owned via Tesla Motors Netherlands BV.

The maker of Model 3, the best-selling battery-powered car, company aims to import, distribute, sell, service, and maintain electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems and equipment, including solar panels in the world's fourth largest auto market, the filing said. It will also look at research and development.

Tesla had named three directors of the Indian unit: Vaibhav Taneja, chief accounting officer at Tesla; David Jon Feinstein, global senior director; and Venkatrangam Sreeram.

India has been long wooing Tesla to set up a factory to underscore the Narendra Modi-led government's focus on bringing investments and creating jobs. The nation also offers incentives on electric cars as it looks to curb fuel imports and reduce pollution.

Elon Musk, Tesla’s billionaire chief executive officer, however, had cited regulatory hurdles as one of the entry barriers. But he tweeted last year that Tesla would definitely launch its cars in India in 2021. Nitin Gadkari, minister for road, transport and highways, reiterated that.

India is also looking to create charging infrastructure for a wider acceptance of electric vehicles. In November, the government invited bids for setting up advance chemistry cell battery storage facilities in public-private partnership.