Tesla Ropes In Ex-Lamborghini Country Head Sharad Agarwal To Lead India Operations
- ByStartupStory | November 5, 2025
Tesla, the global electric vehicle (EV) giant, has appointed Sharad Agarwal, former head of Lamborghini India, as the new country head for its India operations. Agarwal, who brings more than 20 years of experience in the automobile industry, will start in this newly structured role this week, signaling Tesla’s intent to strengthen and scale its presence in the Indian luxury EV market.
Before joining Tesla, Agarwal served as the chief business officer at Classic Legends, a Mahindra & Mahindra-backed venture manufacturing two-wheeler brands such as Yezdi, Jawa, and Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) Motorcycles. He held the head of India position at Lamborghini for over eight years, during which he drove significant growth and profitability in the super-luxury car segment. His extensive industry background includes stints with Audi India, Mahindra, and TVS.
Tesla’s India operations were previously managed by a small team reporting remotely to hubs in China and other Asian locations, but this appointment marks a shift towards a more robust local team and leadership. The move comes about six months after Prashanth Menon stepped down as Tesla India head.
Tesla entered the Indian market officially in July with the launch of its midsize SUV, Tesla Model Y, priced at INR 59.89 lakh for the rear-wheel-drive variant and INR 67.89 lakh for the Long Range version. The company has since opened showrooms in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex and Delhi’s Aerocity. However, initial sales have been below expectations, with around 600 orders received by September, competing in a luxury EV segment dominated by Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Despite earlier plans to set up manufacturing facilities in India, Tesla’s current stance appears uncertain after remarks from the Union Minister of Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, indicating Tesla’s lack of interest in local manufacturing as of June.
Tesla aims to capture a growing luxury EV market in India, expected to reach $30.23 billion by 2033, leveraging Agarwal’s leadership to navigate regulatory environments, expand market reach, and scale operations effectively.
In summary, Sharad Agarwal’s appointment as Tesla India’s head underscores the company’s strategic focus on scaling locally with experienced leadership, bolstering its position amid growing competition in India’s luxury electric vehicle market.
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