EV giant Tesla (TSLA) has appointed a country head in India, marking a shift in its approach to the market after a muted start to sales in the world’s most populous nation.
The electric-car maker has hired Sharad Agarwal, who previously led Lamborghini India, to head local operations, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Agarwal starts this week, the people added, and will be tasked with reviving Tesla’s push in a market that has so far failed to deliver on the hype.
He will also be an on-the-ground leader for the Austin, Texas-headquartered company, as opposed to the previous structure in which a small team of local staffers was managed remotely by an executive team in China and other regional hubs.
Tesla’s India country head resigned after nine years at the company, ahead of the brand’s rollout plans in the country. Tesla (TSLA) officially entered the Indian market in July with the launch of its Model Y electric SUV, priced at around ₹6 million ($69,751).
