Sajjan Jindal on Tesla’s India entry: ‘He can’t do what Mahindra and Tata can’—but Musk is coming

Sajjan Jindal, chairman of JSW Group, made a bold assertion about India’s automobile industry, declaring that local players hold the advantage over global giants like Tesla at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

“I’m putting my heart and soul into the auto business, and I’m 100% sure it will be super successful; there’s nothing that can stop me,” Jindal said during a panel discussion. “This country needs a huge amount of autos, huge amounts of good quality stuff.”

When asked whether Elon Musk could disrupt the Indian market, Jindal was dismissive.

“Elon Musk is not here. He is in the US,” he said. “We Indians are here. He cannot produce what Mahindra can do, what Tata can do—it’s not possible. He can do (it) under Trump’s shadow, in the US. He’s 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 from him. But to be successful in India is not an easy job.”

Sajjan Jindal bats for Tata & Mahindra & Mahindra against Elon Musk’s Tesla, declares, “He can’t be successful in India!” This, even as he tells Shereen Bhan that Musk is ‘super smart’. #MustWatch@sajjanjindal @TataMotors @Mahindra_Auto @ShereenBhan #sajjanjindal #elonmusk… pic.twitter.com/oqv6Sb17xN

— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) March 5, 2025

Tesla moves in with Mumbai showroom

Jindal’s remarks come just as Tesla takes a major step toward entering India. As per Reuters, the US-based electric vehicle (EV) giant has finalised a lease agreement to open its first showroom in Mumbai, signaling its renewed push into the Indian market.

According to the report, Tesla has secured a five-year lease starting February 16, 2025, for a 4,003 square-foot space in the Maker Maxity building, located in Mumbai’s business hub, Bandra Kurla Complex.

The lease starts at an annual rent of approximately $446,000, increasing by 5% each year to reach about $542,000 by the fifth year.

Tesla’s move comes after a meeting between Elon Musk and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which had sparked speculation about the company’s plans for India. The automaker is also reportedly scouting locations in New Delhi as part of its broader expansion strategy.

With Jindal betting big on India’s homegrown auto industry and Musk making inroads into the market, the stage is set for an intense battle in the country’s evolving EV landscape.

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