Tesla Appoints Ex-Lamborghini Chief Sharad Agarwal to Lead India Operations Amid EV Market Challenges

Tesla has appointed Sharad Agarwal, former head of Lamborghini India, as its new country head to lead and revitalize its operations in India, marking a strategic shift from remote to local management. Agarwal's extensive experience in luxury car sales is expected to help Tesla better connect with affluent buyers and tailor its approach to the unique challenges of the Indian market, including high import tariffs and slow electric vehicle adoption. Tesla's previous management model relied on executives based outside India, contributing to sluggish sales, with orders remaining low despite the launch of the Model Y. Agarwal will be fully based in India, aiming to strengthen Tesla’s foothold by overseeing retail, distribution, and customer experience, while aligning with government EV policies. The appointment reflects Tesla’s commitment to localizing leadership and accelerating its EV rollout in major metro cities, amidst competition from established luxury car brands. This leadership change is seen as Tesla’s renewed push to build a premium, customer-centric brand in one of the world's fastest-growing car markets.