Sajjan Jindal says Tesla won't have it easy in India, 'can't achieve M&M, Tata's feat'

Sajjan Jindal says Tesla won't have it easy in India, 'can't achieve M&M, Tata's feat'

JSW Group chairman Sajjan Jindal has said that Tesla's entry into India’s electric vehicle (EV) market will not be easy, as the company is set to face stiff competition from domestic players like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra.

Speaking at the Ernst & Young 'Entrepreneur Of The Year' awards, Jindal asserted that Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk may find the Indian market challenging. “Elon Musk is not here. He is in the US,” Jindal said during a panel discussion. “He can’t be successful in India! We Indians are here. He cannot produce what Mahindra can do, what Tata can do.”

Acknowledging Musk’s achievements, Jindal said, “He is super smart, no question about it. He’s a maverick, doing spacecraft and all that. He’s done amazing work, so I don’t want to take anything away from him. But to be successful in India is not an easy job.”

The remarks come as Tesla takes steps to enter India, with the government considering tariff cuts on imported EVs. Washington has been pushing for lower duties, but New Delhi remains cautious about an immediate reduction to zero, sources told Reuters.

Jindal’s comments also reflect the ongoing transformation of India’s automobile sector, where manufacturers are increasingly focusing on electric and hybrid vehicles to align with stringent emission norms.

His own group, JSW, has been actively exploring opportunities in the EV segment. JSW MG Motor India, a joint venture with China’s SAIC Corp, recently showcased several new energy vehicles, including electric and plug-in hybrids, at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo.