Tesla hires ex‑Lamborghini India chief to accelerate its India sales
What's the story
Tesla has appointed Sharad Agarwal as its new country head in India. The move comes after a slow start for the electric car maker in the world's most populous nation. Agarwal, who previously headed Lamborghini India, will be responsible for accelerating Tesla's operations in the country. He will also serve as an on-ground leader, unlike his predecessor, who worked out of both India and the US, with local operations previously managed remotely by a team in China and other hubs.
Strategic change
Agarwal's task to turn initial interest into real sales
Agarwal's appointment is part of Tesla's strategy to adopt a more localized approach in India. The company is focusing on luxury buyers instead of going after mass-market volumes for now. This comes as a response to India's protectionist tariffs and slow EV adoption rate. Despite the challenges, Agarwal's task will be to turn initial interest into real sales in this market.
Experience
Agarwal's experience in luxury auto segment
Agarwal comes with nearly a decade of experience leading Lamborghini's India business, where he helped the brand become a super-luxury market leader. He also expanded its reach beyond major metros to over 60 cities. However, Tesla's launch in India has been below expectations so far. The company has received just over 800 orders since it started taking bookings in July. The EV-maker is now planning to ramp up its marketing efforts in India to raise brand and product awareness