Bengaluru’s Pravaig offers lifeline to interns left in limbo by Tesla

A Bengaluru-based startup has invited the Tesla summer interns, whose offers the US electric automaker had revoked last week, to the “Silicon Valley of India”, offering them “a supportive environment” where their talents “are recognized and appreciated.”

Shivangi Bagri, a partner at electric vehicle startup Pravaig Dynamics, wrote on social networking platform LinkedIn that those who have lost the opportunity to work at Tesla are welcome to work at Pravaig should they choose to move to the “Silicon Valley of India.”

“At Pravaig Dynamics, we understand the importance of feeling valued and supported in your career pursuits. That’s why we want to extend a genuine invitation to those affected by this unfortunate situation. If you find yourself in limbo, unsure of what the future holds and have a genuine offer letter from Tesla, we’d be happy to have a chat with you to see how you could fit in at Pravaig,” Bagri wrote in her LinkedIn post. 

Tesla chief Elon Musk last month announced that the company had decided to cut its global workforce by 10%. The move also affected the summer interns who were expecting to join the company for an internship during their break. 

Tesla has rescinded the offers just weeks before their internships were set to start, Bloomberg reported. 

The move came following a drop in Tesla’s EV sales in the US, China, and Europe. 

Bagri said that the Tesla appointment letter “was a testament to your skills, experience, and potential, and we believe that doesn’t simply vanish with a revoked offer.”

“While we may not be able to replicate the exact opportunity you had envisioned with Tesla, we can promise a supportive environment where your talents are recognized and appreciated should you choose to move to the Silicon Valley of India and work at Pravaig,” she wrote. 

“Your journey may have hit a bump in the road; but together, we can navigate towards a brighter future. Let’s explore the possibility of working together, not as a replacement for what you lost, but as a new beginning filled with promise and opportunity,” Bagri wrote. 

According to Pravaig’s website, the company is set to launch its electric vehicle, Defy, in the next two years. 

Established in 2011, Pravaig Dynamics signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi India Venture Studio last year to set up a plant in Saudi Arabia capable of manufacturing 1 million EVs.