Elon Musk Can't Be Successful in This Country: JSW Chairman Sajjan Jindal

By siliconindia  |  Thursday, 06 March 2025, 09:46:05 AM IST

Elon Musk Can't Be Successful in This Country JSW Chairman Sajjan Jindal
In a bold declaration at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards, JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal asserted that India’s homegrown auto industry holds the upper hand against global giants like Tesla.
“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 stated during a panel discussion. “This country needs a huge amount of autos, huge amounts of good quality stuff”.
When asked about Tesla’s potential to disrupt the Indian market, Jindal remained resolute. “Elon Musk is not here. He is in the US”, he remarked. “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”.
Jindal’s comments coincided with Tesla’s renewed push into India. According to Reuters, Tesla has secured a lease for its first showroom in Mumbai, located in the Maker Maxity building at Bandra Kurla Complex. The five-year lease, starting February 16, 2025, begins at $446,000 annually, increasing by 5% each year to reach $542,000 by the fifth year.
The move follows Elon Musk’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which sparked speculation about Tesla’s India strategy. The company is also reportedly exploring potential locations in New Delhi, signaling its broader ambitions for the Indian market.
With Jindal betting on the strength of India’s domestic automakers and Tesla gearing up for its entry, the Indian EV landscape is set for a fierce showdown. As local players like Tata and Mahindra continue to dominate the market, Tesla's arrival could mark the beginning of an electrifying competition in one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive sectors.
The battle between India’s homegrown champions and the Silicon Valley disruptor promises to reshape the country's EV future, leaving consumers poised to benefit from the innovation and intensity driving the industry forward.

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