US electric carmaker Tesla Inc. is exploring land in Maharashtra to set up an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing unit, The Economic Times reported, citing people aware of the matter.

The American car maker is also approaching top executives from top auto companies such as Tata Motors Ltd, a leader in the EV manufacturing space, the report said.

The company’s plan picked up speed after Tesla owner Elon Musk last week met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US, where the former reportedly pushed for concessions and a lower import duty on imported EVs.

Tesla may set up a manufacturing unit in Maharashtra, where it has set up an office, with auto ancillary part manufacturing hubs situated in Chakan and Chikhli, both near Pune.

Chakan is the largest auto and manufacturing hub in the country, where Mercedes Benz, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Volkswagen, and Bajaj Auto plants are located.

Tesla on hiring spree

Apart from land, Tesla is also scouting for people.

Tesla has posted vacancies for 13 roles on its LinkedIn social media handle, signaling the company’s renewed push to establish a presence in India.

The job profiles announced on the social media site include service, sales, customer support, operations, and business roles for Delhi and Mumbai locations.

The job posts suggest that the electric vehicle maker is planning to open several showrooms in India.

Senior Tesla executive Prashanth Menon may play a key role in India operations, the ET report said.

This is not the first time the EV maker is exploring opening a plant in India.

In 2021, it first explored setting up a store and a company office in Mumbai’s Lower Parel. The plan was later shelved after Indian government officials didn’t budge on Tesla’s request to slash import duty on Tesla vehicles.

Two years later, top officials at Tesla met Modi and discussed the possibility of locally sourcing auto components.

Following that meeting, the company leased an office space in Pune for five years.

In 2023, two meetings were held between Musk and Modi, giving further wind to the possibility of an EV maker setting up a plant in India.

Last year, India updated its EV policy and announced duty concessions to auto companies investing at least $500 million in the country.