Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has started recruiting in India, with the company owned by billionaire Elon Musk placing job ads just after the US President's key aide met with India's Prime Minister.
Tesla has over a dozen job openings listed on its website, targeting both the capital city of New Delhi and the economic hub of Mumbai, featuring roles such as store manager and service technicians.
The job openings were posted on the professional networking website LinkedIn on Monday.
Tesla's push into the Indian market follows a private meeting between Elon Musk and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, sparking speculation about whether the world's wealthiest individual was meeting with the Indian leader in an official or business capacity.
Elon Musk has been exploring business opportunities in the world's most populous country, with recent media reports indicating that the company was searching for locations to establish factories and showrooms.
Elon Musk has also attempted to introduce his satellite internet service Starlink in India, with Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stating in November that the company will be allowed to operate if it adheres to "security" regulations.
The potential launch of Starlink, a network of low Earth orbit satellites that can provide internet to remote and isolated areas, has sparked intense policy discussions and concerns about national security in the world's most populous country.
Musk had planned to visit India in 2024, with expectations that he would unveil significant investment plans, however, he cancelled the trip citing "very heavy Tesla commitments".
Despite being a relatively small market, India's electric vehicle market still presents a promising growth opportunity for Tesla, which is facing increased competition from Chinese rivals and its first annual decline in electric vehicle sales.
India has had high import duties on electric vehicles for a long time -- Musk once described them as being among the "highest in the world" -- which had prevented Tesla from gaining a foothold in the market until local manufacturing became an option.
Last year, India reduced import taxes on electric vehicles for global automakers that agreed to invest $500 million and begin local production within three years.
New Delhi had previously provided swift tariff reductions before Modi's visit to Washington, including lowering duties on high-end motorcycles - a boost to Harley-Davidson, the renowned US manufacturer whose struggles in India have annoyed Trump.
India has also accepted three US military flights carrying over 300 migrants as part of Trump's immigration crackdown.